Safety. Civility. Privacy. Internet. Teens. Which word does not belong? For most people, the word is "teens". With apps such as Snapchat, Yik Yak, and Omegle being widely used among teens, the older generation is often concerned about whether teens take the internet and its power seriously.
With assurances from the app publishers that conversations and messages will be completely erased, and promises that their identities will remain secure, teens feel they are being perfectly safe and responsible when using these apps. What teens often don't realize is that it's not as simple as that. They don't realize all the backup systems and archives that may be behind the running of an app, and the possibility of screenshots means almost nothing is safe from being saved and duplicated. Another trait that puts teens at risk with these apps is the typical risk-taking behavior of teenagers -- it's just part of where they are developmentally! In the 21st century, typical teenage acts of testing limits and exploring autonomy have become more serious. Teens who might otherwise satisfy their thrill-seeking behaviors by speeding on the highway or jumping from a roof onto a trampoline are now talking with strangers online and sending messages that should "disappear" within seconds of being received. At first this "21st century" behavior seems physically safer, but teens need to realize that their physical safety isn't the only thing that matters. When a person is online, their identity, location, reputation, and emotional well-being need to be safeguarded as well. Teens should be educated on what is safe to share, who is safe to chat with, and what should not be said online. Education, of course, never has been able to completely control the risk-taking behaviors characteristic of the teenage years, but it's a good start, and a little bit of education can play a crucial role in the thoughts that happen right before a teen presses the "post" or "send" button.
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AuthorHi! My name is Nicole, and I've been knitting since I was 9 years old. I love teaching myself new techniques, and sometimes making them up. I usually come up with ideas faster than I can knit them! And one day I thought, why not share it all with you! Archives
November 2016
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