When I first moved to Scotland, Bebo was still the big social networking site amongst teens and young adults in the UK. But the phenomenon that is Facebook hit the UK with such force that, just two and a half years later, Bebo is never even mentioned by this same age group. Many have either abandoned or deleted their Bebo accounts in favour of Facebook. (My American friends will most likely have never even heard of Bebo.)
Facebook has permeated our culture and affected the lives of millions, both young and old, throughout the world. This video explains it well:
The World Is Obsessed With Facebook from Alex Trimpe on Vimeo.
Facebook is great for a number of reasons, including the fact that you can re-connect with friends and acquaintances who you may have lost touch with over the years. But I have noticed there are a number of dangers that come with Facebook and other social networking sites. I have also noticed that many people, especially teenagers, are much more careless on Facebook than they would be in real life. Many have been stripped by Facebook. They have exposed everything about themselves to the world with just a few clicks of the mouse.
When I took my driving course in high school, I had to go through a section on alcohol. The instructor emphasized that judgment is the first thing you lose when you drink. So the more you drink, the more open and carefree you become. You could certainly say this is how many teenagers act on Facebook, and they divulge everything — personal feelings and emotions, dodgy photos, and harsh language. Facebook has also become a new forum for bullying. After all, it’s dead easy to make fun of someone in a comment thread on Facebook than to their face at school.
I’m not saying that we must completely shut off our computers and hide in the closet, but I also want to give a few words of advice and encouragement.
Teenagers
1. Make sure your privacy settings ensure that your information is completely private to only your friends and not open to the public. To do this, go to your Facebook homepage. In the upper right-hand corner, select “Account”. Click on “Privacy Settings”. Under “Sharing on Facebook”, make sure “Friends Only” is selected. Then, below that, click on “Edit Settings” under “Apps and Websites”. Make sure “Game and App Activity” is set to “Friends Only”. Then click on “Edit Settings” in “Instant Personalization”. Make sure the box is unchecked.
2. Don’t share any information, even with friends, that you wouldn’t share face-to-face with someone.
3. Don’t post photos that are suggestive or sexy.
4. Think before you update your status or comment on someone else’s status or photos. Remember that everyone you are connected with on Facebook can view these updates.
5. Bullying isn’t cool in real life, and it’s not cool on Facebook. Resist the urge to either make fun of someone or join in with someone else who is bullying. Stand up for those who are being treated unfairly.
Parents
1. Monitor your teenager’s activity on Facebook. This doesn’t mean you need to look over their shoulder every day or even sign up for your own account. But hold them accountable for what they type and post.
2. Remember, your teenager can access Facebook on their phone if they have a data plan.
3. Exercise graceful authority, not legalism.
8 March 2011