Internet Safety

A person doesn't want to exaggerate a problem, that's for sure, but you can't really underscore the "dangers" on the Internet. All you need is one enemy, one person who doesn't like you, who is angry at you, who is jealous of you, and your life is open season. Fiction becomes reality.

In other words, it's easy to trash people online. So a professional like me is going to tell kids, adults, too, that although it feels good to get attention, to have your name up in lights, 400 friends, your own website, a blog, six tweet accounts. . . be careful what you wish for.

Fame can be a real pain.

danah boyd did her dissertation research on social media and found the following 'truths' about what we put out on the Internet.

Searchability- anyone can find it, whatever it is you put up. Actually, sometimes a person has to do a little digging, but there's a copy somewhere of everything digital. For most of us, it's a 'So what?' We haven't written anything we're ashamed about, or posed without our clothes on. One embarrassing night out, and you really don't know who was taking your picture, and who will want to see it.

Persistence- it doesn’t go away. That's why it's searchable, obviously.

Replicability- any fourth-grader can copy and paste, reproduce anything. Some of us get very good at snagging things for free, in fact. (I personally prefer to take my own photographs or buy them at istockphoto.com

Invisible audience-- we have no idea who's looking at our picture or what we wrote on our blogs.

We have to add to danah's list, dis-inhibition, a function of anonymity. Those who think they're anonymous on the web loosen up, say things they wouldn't ordinarily say. But find me one person who is really anonymous. I dare you. This person doesn't exist.

And we have IP addresses, by the way.

There. You have three slides from a 60 slide powerpoint program on the subject. You think there's nothing to worry about?

I did an Internet Safety workshop last week for high school kids, expect to do many, many more. 'm so glad I got this thing going. Terrified, but glad.


Linda Freedman