“Growing Up Online… Benefits vs. Risks”
By Online Security Authority on Dec 16, 2008 in Online Security Authority
It is really a moot question; Pandora’s Box is already opened. Even if we decide, the benefits do not outweigh the risks, then what? It is now a thread woven into the social fabric of our children’s behavior and lifestyle.
It is not much different than asking the same question regarding the benefits of the media: Internet, television, magazines, books, etc. are outweighed by the risks. There exist polar opposites for each which, fortunately the majority considers unacceptable and the extreme.
We just had a discussion today regarding “monitoring” your child’s online activity. The benefits (good parenting in the 21st Century) opposed to the perceived risks (spying on your child).
Like the Internet, online social networking anomalies, are no longer considered technology tools, these are elements of your child’s everyday life as much as going to school, dating, and learning to drive. Technologies will continue to influence the behavior of future generations and most likely, each will provide a benefit (most likely the catalyst that spreads it virally) and a risk; those who invariably find a misuse to cause harm to others.
However, the question should be directed to the Internet… Do the benefits outweigh the risks? After all, social networking is a byproduct of the Internet. The answer to this question is; it depends.
As for my partner and me, the internet and social networking offer more benefits than risk and we intend to do everything within our powers to make sure our children and as many of the new Net-Generation are empowered with the skills to understand the difference.
Parenting and behavioral change (teaching our children proper online etiquette) are the keys to locking out many of the risks and therefore encouraging the benefits to surface by being civil to one another.
Written by: OSAblogger / Bill Wardell - Please Read Our Latest OSA eZine Edition
Popularity: 12% [?]
OSA Related Posts- MySpace: Social networking can be risky; Cops warn parents of MySpace risks
- MySpace using new technology to weed out sexual predators...
- More Phishing Phun: Even Experienced Web Users are Becoming Victims
- 10 Tips On Guiding Kids How To Safely Use Social Networks
- Top Ten Tips to Keep Teens Safe on Social Networks
- MySpace Rules the Web
- Protect Your Child from Internet Predators
- 10 Ways to see if an Online Shopping site will keep your Credit Card safe.
- Keeping Your Money Safe On the Internet: 10 Methods You Can Ensure Online Banking Security
- How To Dominate Social Networking Sites
- 5 Super Powered Strategies To Increase Your Web Traffic Using Social Networks
- Social Networking and What it Can Do For You!
- Social Networking Sites: How Do I Get Traffic?
- Blog Plug-Ins to Get More Readers
- Pentagon wants to harvest info on social networking sites
- Make Money - How To Make Money Blogging
- Ping.fm for webOS: Update all your Social Networks from your Palm Phone
- Own Business Over The Internet
- Opening Of Own Site On The Internet.
2 Trackback(s)