Blogging Safety: A Tutorial for Parents Developed by the Douglas County School System Technology Department

What is a Blog? A Blog or Weblog (web+log) is a journal posted on the Internet. It is basically a diary. It may contain pictures and or text and may be viewed by anyone. Blogs are often hosted free of charge by companies who place ads on blog pages.

Too Much Information Blogs can be written about anyone or anything. They are not typically monitored or regulated. According to Microsoft, recent studies show: Teenagers write half of all blogs Teenagers write half of all blogs 2 out of 3 include their age 2 out of 3 include their age 1 out of 5 include their full name 1 out of 5 include their full name

Too Much Information

The Dangers… While many teens enjoy blogs and use them as a way to vent or express themselves, they are not alone on the web. While many teens enjoy blogs and use them as a way to vent or express themselves, they are not alone on the web. Sexual predators often search blogs and try to put together enough information to locate a child. They often join a blog ring and befriend teens to get additional information. All they need are a few key pieces of information. Sexual predators often search blogs and try to put together enough information to locate a child. They often join a blog ring and befriend teens to get additional information. All they need are a few key pieces of information. Reverse phone number look-ups can find a street address. Reverse phone number look-ups can find a street address. Mapping sites (Mapquest, Yahoo Maps) will even provide a map to your front door! Mapping sites (Mapquest, Yahoo Maps) will even provide a map to your front door!

Examples The following examples of blogs belong to students living in Douglas County. The following examples of blogs belong to students living in Douglas County. Identifying information has been hidden. Identifying information has been hidden. These were found by simply searching for blog rings. These were found by simply searching for blog rings.

Examples

Examples

Examples

Examples

Cyber Bullying Cyber bullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices. Cyber bullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices. Cyber bullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators and parents as young people embrace the Internet and other mobile communication technologies. Cyber bullying is emerging as one of the more challenging issues facing educators and parents as young people embrace the Internet and other mobile communication technologies.

Blogging Guidelines Never offer any personal information including your last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, schools name, address, last names of friends or relatives, instant messaging names, age, or birth date.Never offer any personal information including your last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, schools name, address, last names of friends or relatives, instant messaging names, age, or birth date. Never post provocative pictures of yourself or anyone else, and be sure any images you provide do not reveal any of the previously mentioned information. Always remember to look at the background of a picture, too.Never post provocative pictures of yourself or anyone else, and be sure any images you provide do not reveal any of the previously mentioned information. Always remember to look at the background of a picture, too. Assume what you publish on the Web is permanent. Anyone on the Internet can easily print out a blog or save it to a computer.Assume what you publish on the Web is permanent. Anyone on the Internet can easily print out a blog or save it to a computer. Keep blogs positive and don't use them for slander or to attack others.Keep blogs positive and don't use them for slander or to attack others.

Warning Signs for Parents Your child quickly changes the computer screen or turns off the monitor when you enter the room. Your child quickly changes the computer screen or turns off the monitor when you enter the room. Your child is hiding disks or CDs. Your child is hiding disks or CDs. Your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the Internet or is online late into the night. Your child spends an inordinate amount of time on the Internet or is online late into the night. You discover unusual charges on your credit card statements. Be especially suspicious of phone charges that identify themselves as "Web Site." Many pornographers don't provide their names to avoid raising parental concern. You discover unusual charges on your credit card statements. Be especially suspicious of phone charges that identify themselves as "Web Site." Many pornographers don't provide their names to avoid raising parental concern. You notice changes in your child's behavior (mention of adults you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate sexual knowledge, sleeping problems, etc.). You notice changes in your child's behavior (mention of adults you don't know, secretiveness, inappropriate sexual knowledge, sleeping problems, etc.).

What Can You Do? Educate yourself and your child. Educate yourself and your child. Talk to your kids and establish guidelines for Internet use, including blogs. Remind them that what they write is visible to ANYONE searching the blog site. Talk to your kids and establish guidelines for Internet use, including blogs. Remind them that what they write is visible to ANYONE searching the blog site. Report threats and bullying. Report threats and bullying. Visit the links provided at the end of this presentation for more information. Visit the links provided at the end of this presentation for more information.

Resources px px DCSS Board Policy on Bullying: DCSS Board Policy on Bullying: (rule 6) (rule 6)