Facebook

Who Doesn't Know What it is?
Facebook surfaced on the world wide scene in 2004 and revolutionized the way people communicate and connect online. According to Facebook's Latest Press Release here are the latest stats:
 * More than 500 million active users
 * 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day
 * Average user has 130 friends
 * People spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook

You can bet that the Digital Generation leads the pack in terms of number of active users. So.....let's talk about how we can teach our students to use Facebook effectively so that they don't compromise their safety or their privacy.

to see what Facebook engineers have to say about it. ||
 * media type="custom" key="9855177" || Check the video entitled **//"Facebook Safety Moment"//** dated April 19, 2011

Privacy Settings for Young Teens — Protecting your Digital Footprint
First things first. It is not cool to have **HUNDREDS** of friends on Facebook or to post too much personal information as part of your profile. Lots of kids established Facebook accounts when there were few privacy options to choose from. Many times without realizing it, they agreed to Facebook's default setting which was to make everything public to everyone on the Internet. Facebook recently revised their privacy settings due to public criticism from parents, educators, and organizations concerned about teen safety. Additionally, it should also be noted that while Facebook does not technically allow kids under the age of 13 to join their site due to the Children's online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA); kids often lie about their age; and no one including Facebook is monitoring COPPA compliance.

So where does that leave us? According to ConnectSafely.org and SafeKids.com - two leading organizations concerned with keeping kids safe online, here are the privacy/profile settings teens should consider using if their parents allow them to have a Facebook account. **These can be good talking points for both our students and parents who are as overwhelmed as we are about using social media wisely.**

Edit Profile Settings - Basic Informatio**n**
 * ** Setting ** || ** Recommendation for teens ** ||
 * Current city || Generally OK ||
 * Hometown || Generally OK ||
 * Interested In || Leave blank or think about whether the interests you type in reflect positively on you ||
 * Looking For || Leave blank ||
 * Political Views || Think about how filling this in might affect people’s perception of you and whether it could subject you to bullying ||
 * Religious Views || Generally OK, but - as above - filling this in might affect people's perception of you ||
 * Bio || Generally OK, but don't go overboard - think about how your info might look to others ||
 * Favorite Quotation || Probably OK, but check back in every now and then to see if it still represents you ||
 * Profile Picture || An appropriate photo of yourself or an object or cartoon character that represents you; or just leave blank ||
 * Relationship Status || Leave blank ||
 * Education and Work || Generally OK to list your school. Consider not listing employer ||
 * Likes and Interests

(activities, music, books, movies, etc.) || Generally OK but think about what you list, how it will be perceived & whether it will subject you to bullying || Contact Information in Profile Basic Privacy Settings Customized Privacy Settings Things Others Share Contact Information
 * ** Setting ** || ** Recommendation for Teens ** ||
 * Emails || Generally OK, but make available to Friends Only in // Customized // Privacy Settings ||
 * IM Screen Name(s) || Generally OK, but make available to Friends Only in // Customized // Privacy Settings ||
 * Mobile Phone || Leave blank ||
 * Other phone || Leave blank ||
 * Address/City/Town/Zip and Neighborhood || Leave blank ||
 * Website || Generally OK ||
 * ** Setting ** || ** Recommendation for Teens ** ||
 * Basic Privacy Settings || ** Friends Only & click "Apply These Settings ** " ||
 * // (Click "Customize settings" at bottom of page.) //**
 * ** Setting ** || ** Recommendation ** ||
 * ** Posts by me ** || ** Friends Only ** ||
 * Family || ** Friends Only ** ||
 * Relationships || Only Me ||
 * Interested and looking for || Only Me ||
 * Bio and favorite quotations || Friends Only ||
 * Website || Friends Only ||
 * Religious and political views || Only Me or perhaps Friends Only ||
 * Places I check into || Only Me ||
 * Include me in “People Here Now” after I check i in || Disable ||
 * // (Click "Customize settings" at bottom of page and scroll to //**
 * // section in left-hand column below.) //**
 * Photos and videos I’m tagged in || Friends Only ||
 * Can comment on posts || Friends Only ||
 * Friends can post on my Wall || Friends Only ||
 * Friends can check me in to Places || Disable ||
 * ** Setting ** || ** Recommendation for Teens ** ||
 * Mobile phone || Customize & limit to people they know & trust or “Only Me” ||
 * Other phone || Customize & limit to people they know & trust or “Only Me” ||
 * Address || Customize & limit to “Only Me” ||
 * IM screen name || Friends Only ||
 * Email address || ** Friends Only ** ||

Pitfalls to Avoid

 * **Remember, anything that is digital can be copied, stored, or forwarded. Information lasts FOREVER in a digital world.** Even if you trust your friends, they may not be your friends forever. Kids need to realize that they should not use Facebook as a place to reveal their inner most thoughts to anyone willing to listen. Some things should just not be shared online. Check out the video to the right to see what employers, teens, and guidance counselors are saying about balancing the benefits of social networking with the need for safety. || media type="custom" key="9863767" ||  ||

Additional Resources
Facebook's New Simplified Privacy Settings [|Farewell Facebook] Federal Cybersafety Guide Online Law Enforcement Team Speak out about Facebook and Coppa Law

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