Once it’s online, anyone can see it
I read an article in USA Today last week that I thought was very interesting. It discussed the dangers and risks associated with posting any personal information online, whether it is on a blog, The Facebook, Myspace, or the hundreds of other sites out there that let you sign up and participate in a community or write in a diary.
Obviously they touched on the stalkers from MySpace and suspensions, even explusions, resulting from a Facebook profile. We’ve all heard the stories, we all know the dangers. Kids will be kids, right?
Well, the article basically explains “kids will be kids” isn’t going to be able to cut it as more kids are getting online at younger ages.
I actually experienced something along these lines when I was in 7th grade. I went to Anderson High School, which also acted as the middle school at the time, and was just learning how to use the internet. One night someone told me a teacher’s screen name. I thought the internet was anonymous and that anyone could say anything without being caught. Oops.
The short story is that I said some things to a teacher I didn’t even know that got me suspended for three days. It wasn’t just me, anyone who was saying inappropriate things or giving out this teacher’s screen name got into trouble as well. We were called to the office the next day one by one and we were given our punishments after our parents were called.
No one really knew how to handle the situation since most of the adults really had no idea how instant messaging worked at the time. What they knew was I had contacted a teacher over the internet, called him “gay”, and then logged off.
I learned my lesson and I have paid attention to what I said on the internet since then, particularly on websites.
Of course there are thousands of stories like this now, although I’d like to think I was one of the first way back in 1998 (Google was a little less than a blip on the radar). Now there are plenty of places to make stupid remarks that are much more permanent than an instant message. Maybe now schools have policies regarding internet usage outside of school, I don’t know. If they don’t, they definitely should. People need a clear definition of what is right and what is wrong.
Anyway, the USA Today article focused on all the bad things that happen when kids use these community websites and write on personal blogs. What about the benefits?
My blog has served as a stepping stone to meeting a lot of smart people and developing some great business relationships. I’ve been approached quite a few opportunities, some I’ve taken and some I haven’t. I get quite a few emails now with people asking for my advice or asking me about college. Unfortunately I’m terrible at responding to email, but the fact that people respect and seek my opinion because they read this blog proves how powerful blogging can be.
Anyone can read this blog. I don’t think that’s a frightening realization. I think it’s a huge opportunity. Where else would I have access to millions of people with a chance to show off my skills?
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I agree with your last paragraph, it’s an awesome opportunity. But every time I post I realize my own dad is a subscriber. It puts things in perspective and keeps me in line.