My Space, Facebook and the Like

It seems as though every time I turn on the television I hear another news story or talk show topic on the detrimental effects of these social web sites. I, personally, have never taken part in My Space, but I do have a Facebook account that I'm really bad at updating. (I've never been great at keeping in touch with people.) However, I think another reason I don't use it very often is because it lacks that whole exciting, socializing aspect that only comes with being single. Unfortunately, with that aspect I speak of, it seems as though youth are very eager to gain attention by posting what seems to be everything about themselves, practicing absolutely no caution toward predators or in some cases future employers or universities. I've heard of everything from a teenage girl being driven to suicide from a mean girl's mother through My Space, to a substitute teacher getting fired twice for publishing crude and p*rn*graphic music videos on his page. Even Phil said when they're recruiting, they check out candidates' Facebook pages for further information and in some cases, left unimpressed. It pretty much comes down to young people feeling violated for unexpected visitors invading what they call their "personal" information. My problem is there is nothing personal about posting all of your information on the World Wide Web (hence the name). Anyhow, I bring this up, because I'm not quite sure as a parent, what stance I am going to take on these types of things with my children. A large part of me wants to not allow accounts with such sites at all, and another part of me wants me to wisely steer them in a direction that they make the right decision on their own. Part of me even wonders if it's going to be an issue that will eventually find a place in conference and fireside talks. After talking to a cute 17-year-old girl in my ward, she told me she chose not to have a My Space account and explained that there is no need for everyone to know "all that about me". I should probably have a chat with her mom. Wait... are blogs considered "and the Like" ???

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:03 AM

    I like your other blog--looks like it could take off. Pretty cool. Check your email. How was the b-day?

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  2. I am really leery of MySpace and Facebook, too. I can't decide whether to even have a computer in the house when Abby gets old enough! I waste enough time on the computer as it is ... I don't want to encourage that in my kids. Well, maybe we'll all have time limits -- 1 hour/day for recreational computing time. And tell them they can have a MySpace page if they really want to, but they have to give me the site and I'll check it randomly to make sure there's nothing bad on there.

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  3. I agree...I used to have a myspace account to keep in touch with old friends, but had to delete it due to people getting e-mails from "me" that actually turned out to be viruses. I got so mad when I found out those were being sent and they had my name on them. I now have a facebook account, but I'm with you on that one; I don't up-date it very often. It's the blogging life for me!

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  4. Jaz,
    Sorry but you guys are no longer part of the NMDW you got kicked out when the boys got married Sorry (hehe) Your blog is cute.

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  5. Hey My Floaty Twin!!!
    I know I should post more on your blog, I'm Sorry! I do look at it everyday and your Putterwall blog because you are so fun!!! So, what is with the comments to us from Trout and Amy saying we are no longer part of the NMDW and we got kicked out when the boys got married??? It's not like we were getting action from those boys anyways. We were getting it from others!! Girls have wells too!! Don't you think??

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  6. i love you jazzy, your comments are great and funny i check it every day to see what witty thing you have to say. thanks for making me smile. by the way what is a NMDW. I was looking a justin's old pictures i came across his jr prom. he was so excited for that date. hahaha i miss him

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