I think I agree with the article "The Moral Panic Over Social Networking sites" makes some excellent points. I really feel that this legislation is too harsh. In addition, what if adults want to access these sites from a public library, they should have the right to do so. Should that right only be reserved for those who can afford to do so? Are these filters automatic or controlled by the librarians? There are many benefits to these social networking sites: they allow access to art, culture, thought and the power of the collective that previously was not accessible. I have recently really enjoyed watching videos on utube and learning about new bands/music on myspace. I have definitely learned some new things.
I think some middle ground needs to be reached. I agree with some of the people who commented below the article that this law is a band aid. I feel this is the way we approach and deal with many problems in this society. For example, modern medicine says "let's treat the symptoms" instead of asking "what is really causing this problem and how can it be prevented or solved?".
I think videos should be created for children and parents that educate them about what the purpose is of these sites, both the pros and cons should be given in addition to strategies for how to avoid dangers that may present themselves.
I also think kids should be allowed to sign up if they have their parents permission. The technology has to catch up though. There needs to be a better way to authenticate whether or not children really have their parents permission. Maybe parents could have the power to screen and approve their children's online friends before they are allowed to add them". To me, the people who support this act sound like lazy parents. What they may not realize is that they may be cutting off their children from life experiences. We cannot shelter children from everything. We have a resonsibility as a society to teach them to think critically.
4 comments:
Thea, Hi! I've been "away" from the computer this weekend celebrating Emma's graduation from high school and I haven't kept up with my reading and posting -- all by way of saying that I read your post on the article, but not he article -- now that my confession is over, here is my opinion: as parents, we are responsible for being actively involved in ALL aspects of our children's lives so we are familiar with where they go and who they go there with. While there are laws that penalize parental neglect, I truly hope that what motivates adults to know their kids is not the threat of punishment, but rather the joys of doing their job well which enriches both the parent and the child.
Sometimes you have to get a bit sneaky as a parent. Just this morning my daughters cell phone alarm went off as she was in the shower. When I picked up the phone I must have hit the text messaging button and VOILA there were her messages. I read them all -- yep, I impinged on her privacy and read every single one. I am glad I didn't find anything I'd have to ask her about, but if I had, I would have -- that's my job.
As my mother would say, "Being a parent isn't a popularity contest, Julie!".
Do you think I went too far?
I think that parenting is getting more and more complex. We used to worry about our kids crossing the street, not talking to strangers, choosing good friends and now we still worry about those things and much more. Our children need not leave the house and can still be in harm's way if all of this wonderful technology that we have isn't utilized appropriately by all parties involved. (The video on cyberbullying really opened up my eyes). As a parent, I am involved as much as I possibly can be and try to stay openminded and learn about things that are new to me. My goal is not to shelter my children from society but to help them handle whatever comes their way.
**Beatrice**
I am a parent as well, but my daughter is only two...and so far I haven't encountered much in this area. However, I see the way kids are immersed in technology and pick up everything. Even my daughter can open up the DVD on my laptop, pop in one of her "movies" (we don't have a TV) and although she doesn't have the coordination to use the mouse pad to click on a specific item, her little finger knows how to move the arrow! Needless to say, this course has only heightened my awareness (and in some case fears) of what's to come.
Beatrice brought up a good point by comparing the fears that parents used to have versus those of today - which are obviously quite different. And as Julie said, you really have to be actively involved in "all aspects of our children's lives".
I guess one difficult aspect of parenting in relation to technology is that one has to be knowledgeable enough to keep up with the trends...because kids certainly have the ability to do so!
Hey Thea,
By the way, MySpace does seem to be a really popular venue for music/bands. I actually explored the site mainly for that reason. A few of my friends who are in bands sent me their MySpace pages and I had fun checking it out.
Kate
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