Let me start of by saying this post is about no one in particular, just a general observation from years of experience. Ok that said, I feel like I am a pretty tech savvy person. I know the risks that one takes getting on the internet. However, I have recently discovered how our younger generation has no regard for safety on the internet. They post on their blogs very personal information; full names, email addresses, location, school name, even phone numbers and personal addresses! I was shocked to find out that they don't see anything wrong with doing so. Do they not realize the danger? I guess its just the overprotective teacher/future mother in me that wants to protect them. Anyway, at the risk of listing specifics I'll stop before I start ranting and raving.!
posted by Kelly Broussard @ 5:45 PM
5 Comments:
This was a very big issue for me when I started my blog. For the first two months it was completely anonymous, no pictures, no info, no flavor.
In the end I decided that I wanted my site to have a personal touch. I did this for several reasons, but most importantly, the majority of my readers are close personal friends and family who I am not able to see often.
I decided to run the risk because the benefits, in my opinion outweight the costs. I think this has made a big difference in the development of my blog and my voice.
I do however try my best to keep things like phone numbers, addresses, places of employment, etc. off of my site.
Granted, if I were a girl things would be very different. Guys can afford to take risks like that a little more than girls can, I think.
So, as a new blogger you have a choice to make that I believe will effect the future success of your blog. It is a big deal, and there are a lot of things to be said for both choices. In my case I felt that using my name would work best, but that may not be the case for others.
Although, I have seen a number of blogs for young (teenage) boys and girls which reveal WAY too much information. There was actually a really great article on CNN.com last month about it, but now I can't find it. It is much more dangerous for children, because many of them don't think of the consequences of posting so much personal info.
If you get your hands on that article again I would love to read it! I was so bothered when I came to the realization that high school kids are posting personal info on their online profiles that I just had to write about it. Its one thing for adults to put info up(which I have no problem with) but this younger generation just has no clue!
I actually heard a stat on the radio (yes, talk radio) the other day that alarmed me..
Over 60% of teenagers that consider themselves "connected" have been solicited in some type of way for a face-to-face meeting with someone they talked with on the internet and almost 90% of the solicitations were of a "more than friends" nature.
Don't tell me that! I'm just going to worry more. This stresses me out.
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