Blogs (Web Logs)
If you think blogs are a fad and will go away, think again. A new blog is created every second, there are more than 900,000 blog posts a day, and they are here to stay.
A blog is a dated publication of personal thoughts and web links. These online journals are typically hosted free of charge. There are two main types; one that is more link oriented and focuses on a specific topic, the other is an online journal that focuses on the writer's personal thoughts and opinions. The online journal is the type of blog that can have a catastrophic effect for children; they can give predators access to personal information.
The appeal of blogging to kids is natural, it is a social thing, a way of getting attention while hiding behind a computer. Predators can monitor blogs until they get enough information about the author; school name, town, street name etc. You are not anonymous when you are on the Internet.
Other dangers of blogs are cyber-bullying and slander.
There are good things about blogs to take into consideration. Blogs are one of many new technologies transforming the world. They are creating a more interactive Web. Students can create meaningful content for audiences all over the world. They can have book discussions, get feedback on written work, communicate with students in other countries, and more.
There are some steps to take to be safe while blogging:
- Password-protect your blog and share that information with your parents only.
- Do not include personal, detailed information in your blog.
- Do not complete a profile form before setting up your blog.
- Do not release any personal information about anyone else.
- Read your writing as if you were the predator, then eliminate any information about your identity.
- Do not include photos of yourself or others in your blog.
- Do not spread gossip or slander about your classmates.
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