CyberSafety: Social Networks

A social network is a service that uses the Internet for online communication through an interactive network of photos, web logs, user profiles, e-mail, web forums, and groups, as well as other media.

* Social networking sites gather data submitted by members as "profiles"
* Profiles can then be shared among members
* Membership can be free or fee-based

Educators

*CTAP Region IV Resources for School Administrators
Check here for help in dealing with student misbehavior in cyberspace and on social networks.

*Social Networking Sites: Today’s Hippest Meeting Place; An Educator, Parent, and Guardian’s Guide
StaySafeOnline.org provides guidelines for how to teach young people safe online practices.

CyberEthics and Security
CyberSmart provides posters, free K-8 curriculum, lesson plans and student activity sheets to help teach students about safe online practices. The curriculum is used by educators in all 50 states, Canada and Australia.

Seven Things All Adults Should Know About MySpace
Doug Johnson, Education World (May 06)
Advises teachers to stay informed about student uses of technology, build student trust by maintaining an open mind about new social phenomena and teach students about potential hazards of all online environments.

*Think Before You Post
This public service announcement from the Cyber Tipline powerfully depicts the consequences of posting pictures on virtual public spaces like social network sites.

Blogs vs. Social Networking - What's the Difference?
Support Blogging is a wiki for people who want to learn about the uses of blogs and wikis in the classroom. Here they post an excellent article on the difference between social networking and blogging.

What Kids Learn From Social Networking| 21st Century Connections
Students observed in a study of educational benedits of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook listed technology skills as the top lesson learned, followed by creativity, being open to new or diverse views and communication skills.

Parents

A Common Sense Approach To Internet Safety [YouTube video]
Google and Common Sense Media have teamed up to create this video of common sense tips and rules for families to help keep their children safe online. For these tips and additional information about online safety, check out the Common Sense Media website.

Social Networking Basics
Video Tutorial produced by MySpace and IKeepSafe.org. Includes information for parents on contacting MySpace.

Talking to Teenagers About Social Networking Web Sites
CyberSmart provides questions, answers and strategies for a dialogue with teens.

ConnectSafely.org
A new resource created by Larry Magid of Safekids.com and Anne Collier of Net Family News. It outlines basic guidelines for teens' safe blogging and social-networking. A forum is provided for parents, teens, educators, and experts to discuss and learn about safe blogging and social networking. You might call this social networking about the social networks!

Ask Marian/Hot Topics For Parents
Marian Merritt, (Symantec's Internet Safety Advisor), provides video tutorials for parents on teen Internet topics such as Social Networking and Cyberbullying, in partnership with IKeep Safe.

Teens & Technology: Crash Course for Parents
Digital Technology 101 offers guidance and advice on how to monitor some of the most popular communication tools used by teens today, including social networking, cell phones and instant messaging.

Students

Teens: Don't Believe the Type
This information was adapted from Teen Safety on the Information Highway written by Lawrence J. Magid, a syndicated columnist, media commentator, and host of www.safekids.com and www.safeteens.com.

For Teens: What We Tell Parents About The Social Web
Anne Collier, Editor of NetFamilyNews.org describes the upsides and downsides of teen social networking activity and advises students how to ease parent concerns and turn into teen advocates for safe, responsible networking.

*Wired Safety Video Resources
Check out the "You Never Know" PSA's from WiredSafety.com- learn to question the information you receive.

* Indicates this resource was shown in CTAP IV Cybersafety PowerPoint