Journal #5
My Space or Yours
Joanne Barrett
Volume 34 (2006 - 2007)
September No.1

This article discusses the history of social networking technology and the pro's and con's that come along with some of these sites. Social networking sites are a great way to meet new people, share information, and find life long partners, if that is what you are looking for. But they can also be used in a negative manner. Not everyone you meet on MySpace or sites like that are who they say they are. These sites can serve as great social tools, but only if they are used in the right manner with proper netiquette.

1. Why were these sites originally started?

Originally, these sites were created to assist students at a university in Waqshington D.C. to share personal information as well as aspects of their personal lives. Students would meet someone and then run back to their computers to look up that person and find out everything they could about them. The success of this site on that campus encouraged the creator to expand from college campuses to high school campuses. Soon people were joining specific groups with others who shared the same interests and the social networking boom began to take off. However, some were using these sites in a negative manner such as cyber bullying and harrassment. That's why it is very important to discuss with users of these sites to always practice proper etiquette while visiting these sites. You never know who will be reading these entries. Maybe a future employer, or a cyber stalker.

2. Are all these social networking sites safe?

The sad truth of the matter is that like everything else in life, there are always a handful who will use something positive and turn it into something negative, sometimes downright awful. One group that has vowed to put a stop to this is Perverted Justice. They, along with MSNBC, set up hidden camera sting operations in cities across the US to expose potential pedophiles. They will enter chat rooms and pose as young children, usually teens, and engage these pedophiles. When the sting operation invites these pedophiles over via the internet, cameras then surprise the unsuspecting offenders and they are arrested. Educating our children, whether they be sons/daughters, or students in a classroom, about the dangers of some of these social networking sites is the best policy. Not only do we teach them about discussions they might be having, but we must also teach them about what type of information they may be transmitting such as names, age, address, and other information like social security numbers. Using a social networking site can be just as dangerous as walking right up to a stranger.