social networks and microblogging: how much is to much?

The above video is an excerpt from Dateline NBC’s popular series, To Catch a Predator with Chris Hansen.  This series was created to expose “Internet predators” or men who use the internet as an anonymous way to meet young girls and coerce them into engaging into sexual activity. These men often find girls through popular social networks including Facebook and MySpace and then engage them in conversations through those social networks or through instant messenger.  Predators generally lie about their age and intentions, pretending only to want a friendship with the random girls they target.  However, these relationships with strange men often go too far and naive girls get coerced into meeting up with the men, often resulting in molestation, rape or worse.  The purpose of Dateline’s To Catch a Predator is to use a decoy girl to lure these predators to a house where they will eventually be caught and charged by NBC  and the police for their illegal behavior.  

The above video clip relates to the topics we studied in journalism class because it exposes the dark side of the Internet’s powerful position as a social network.  Although the Internet does provide several advantages to social networking, it has some serious dangers to be aware of as well.  The Internet allows people to quickly and easily connect with one another across long distances and it also allows people to stay informed about their areas of interest (politics, art, music, travel, etc.).  However, the far reaching availability of the Internet and its anonymity provide Internet predators with a prime area to pray on unknowing teenagers.  With no guidelines or limitations, anyone and everyone has access to join multiple social networks.

Although I actively use Facebook and other internet networks, I definitely take precautionary actions to ensure that my safety and privacy are protected (from both internet predators and strangers in general).  Additionally, I personally do not want people besides my friends and family to have access to my personal life.  I would not want potential employers, past bosses, teachers, or any other figure in my life having access to such information about myself.  Recommended precautions that I take and recommend that others take include making my social network account limited to specific people, untagging all pictures of myself that show me in any compromising way and not providing any personal information such as my address, phone number, or screenname.  

When I was younger I never understood why my mom was so adamant about controlling my internet behavior and monitoring the chat rooms and websites that I visited.  However, I know realize that in order to enjoy all the great opportunities that the Internet has to provide, I must first ensure that my information is protected…