Technology can be marvelous when it is used under the right circumstances and for the right reasons.
The same can be said of social media.
In light of recent events within our community however, a high school teacher being alleged to have inappropriate communication through social media, we wanted to broach the subject of Internet and social media safety.
The Barrhead Leader has endeavoured to speak with Const. Robert Hynes and community-based anti-bullying organization Dare To Care about Internet safety and how best to protect your children, and we will be publishing an article in relation to the subject within the coming weeks.
While our editorial staff believes safety begins in the home, we also believe it is important to take steps as individuals to protect our identities regardless of age.
Unfortunately, children and teenagers are especially vulnerable to predation and cyber-bullying, to exploitation and unsavory individuals and we would like to remind our readers that some information, such as your address and telephone number, should never be shared.
Neither should photographic content that has the potential to compromise one’s personal privacy or safety.
According to the website safekids.com, children should always check with their parents before giving out their address or telephone number and should always notify an adult when confronted by something that makes them uncomfortable.
This could be a photograph, a text message, a blog post or a video.
For teenagers who cannot live without their laptops, their smartphones, et cetera, the rules designed to protect their privacy are similar.
Besides telemarketers, there are individuals who will prey on your innocence if given an opening.
Everyone thinks it will never happen to them.
Sending a photograph or a text message privately, whether the contents are appropriate or not, does not always mean said material will remain private and because users can easily remain anonymous online, popular websites and social media apps can, and unfortunately often do attract adults who pretend to be teens or kids.
In this day and age of cyber-bullying and sexual exploitation, it is important to remember that and to always be wary of any type of behaviour that makes you uncomfortable.
A good mantra to live by, one taken from another Internet safety website, teenshealth.org, is that if you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it or read it, you probably should not send it or post it.
We at the Barrhead Leader acknowledge every person’s right to privacy and freedom of expression but common sense has to prevail.
We know there are predators out there.
Why take the risk and make yourself vulnerable.
