eouaib.com

When Google launched Google+ in June, 2010, it was for adults only. Now it’s open to anyone 13 or older.  The reason Google kept teens off the service at first is not because the social network was ever about what we euphemistically call “adult content,” but because Google wanted to take extra time to get it right before opening the doors to people under 18.  After several months of testing, Google thinks it’s reached a good balance. In rolling out the teen welcome mat, Bradley Horowitz, Google’s Product VP for Google+ said, “We want to help teens build meaningful connections online. We also want to provide features that foster safety alongside self-expression. Today we’re doing both, for everyone who’s old enough for a Google Account (13+ in most countries).”

Before opening Google+ for teens, Google consulted with child safety and teen safety experts including ConnectSafely.org, a non-profit Internet safety organization where I serve as co-director along with Anne Collier.  And to help parents better understand Google+, Anne Collier and I wrote A Parents Guide to Google Plusand helped Google with its new Google+ Teen Safety Guide.

For the most part, teens’ experience on Google+ will be just like adults, but there are some special safeguards for users under 18. Google didn’t put any major breaks on teens — it’s giving them plenty of freedom to express themselves to their friends or even to the world, but it did make some of the default settings for teens more restrictive than for adults. If teens (or adults) decide to change them, they can, but how a service sets its defaults is very important. It’s a type of recommendation — the company’s way of saying “this is how we think most people should use our service,” and — besides — most people never get around to changing defaults.

Circular logic

Everyone on Google+ is encouraged to create circles where they group their friends and other contacts. You could have a circle of just family members, another circle of schoomates and another  circle of people on your soccer team. You can have as many circles as you want and you can call the circles whatever you want to call them. People in your circles are notified, but don’t know the name of the circle(s) you’ve put them in.  And it’s asyncronous. You can be one of my circles, but you don’t have to put me in any of yours. In that case, you’d see what I post to circles you’re in but I’d only see what you post to the public, unless you added me to one of your circles.

Circles work the same for teens as they do for adults, but there are some special safeguards consisting of warnings and different default settings.

Safeguards for teens

• If teens post something directed to extended circles or the public, they’ll get a warning reminding them that “when you share to your extended circles, people you haven’t added to your circles will be able to view your post and may be able to comment.”
• All  Google+ users can control “who can notify me.” For adults, the default is “anyone,” but for teens the default is people in their circles. Adults can make their settings more restrictive and teens can make theirs more open, but the default for teens is designed to limit who can contact them.
• By default, anyone can comment on an adult’s public posts,  but for teens it’s only people in their circles.
• There are also some differences in the profile defaults. Your profile is where others can see a bit about who you are and who you interact with on Google+.  By default, employment and Education can be seen by anyone (Public) if you’re an adult, but for teens, the default is “just your circles.”
• Adults’ “Relationship Status” can be seen by people in their extended circles, but only in “your circles” for teens.
• In the hang-out feature,  up to 10 people can have a video chat. For teens if  someone outside anyof their circles joins in, the teen is temporarily pulled out of the hangout and asked if they want to continue. It’ a way of pausing the action for a second and encouraging the teen to think about whether he or she wants to remain in this hangout.

Teens are temporarily pulled out of a video hangout if someone outside their circles enters

The precautions that Google put into place will help remind teens about safe and appropriate use of Google+ but, as my ConnectSafely co-director Anne Collier pointed out in a blog post, “Just as with most protections and any services on the social Web, these are not about control. Users choose to go with the defaults – or not.” And even services that have strict controls can’t always enforce them. “There’s always a workaround even for the strictest safeguards any parent or site might impose,” said Collier, “including software that disallows social networking sites altogether.”

Disclosure: Larry Magid serves as co-director of ConnectSafely.org which receives financial support from Google, Facebook and other social media companies.

SafeTeens.com

Here’s a shocker for some. By two important measures, teens are safer online now than they were before the advent of social media.

A new report, “Trends in Youth Internet Victimization: Findings From Three Youth Internet Safety Surveys 2000 –2010,” (PDF) from the Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) found a decline in 2010 of both unwanted sexual solicitations and unwanted exposure to pornography compared to studies conducted in 2005 and 2000. 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites

According to a 2011 report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, “95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites.”

As I wrote in my CNET News blog, a 2010 survey of 1,500 youth between 12 and 17 found that 9% had received an unwanted sexual solicitation in the past year. This compares to 13% in 2005 and 19% in 2000. In all three studies, some of those unwanted sexual solicitations came from other youth and the vast majority of them were not “aggressive.” Only 3% of the youth in 2010 said that offline contact was attempted or made. Most youth did not find the solicitations to be frightening or disturbing. That’s actually a bit lower than the 4% who had aggressive solicitations in 2005 and identical to the 2000 figure.

Unwanted sexual solicitation and porn down from previous years. Click graphic to enlarge.

Small increase in online harassment

There was a small rise in the percentage of youth who experienced some type of online harassment during the 12 months preceding the survey. Eleven percent had experienced harassment in 2010 compared to 9% in 2005 and 6% in 2000.

Although sometimes used to indicate cyberbullying, harassment is not the same as bullying. The survey asked youth “did you ever feel worried or threatened because someone was bothering or harassing you online.” Bullying (cyber and otherwise) is defined by the Olweus Bullying Prevention program and most other experts as “aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions”along with “a pattern of behavior repeated over time” that “involves an imbalance of power or strength.”

Rise in social media

The mostly good news comes at a time when the majority of American youth are using social media, most notably Facebook. The first survey took place years before Facebook or MySpace, and the 2005 study before most teens were using Facebook (Facebook wasn’t open to high school students until September, 2005). Correlation doesn’t necessarily imply causation so I’m not suggesting that Facebook has necessary caused unwanted solicitation or pornography to decline. But it obviously hasn’t caused it to increase.

Could social networking be diverting kids from more dangerous sites?

I’m speculating, but I do wonder though whether a case could be made that social media has made kids safer and less prone to unwanted pornography. For one thing, kids are now spending time in sites like Facebook instead of chat rooms which were always the most problematic venue for unwanted solicitation. And, Facebook and most other social networking sites prohibit nudity and other sexually explicit content so, while kids are on Facebook they are very unlikely to stumble into pornography. Again, I don’t have data to support this but it sure seems likely.

The authors of the study made the same observation, pointing out that “youth have migrated from chat rooms to social networking sites over past several years. In social networking environments, youth may be confining more of their interactions to people they know, thus reducing online unwanted sexual comments or requests.”

Disclsoure: Larry Magid is co-director of ConnectSafely.org, a non-profit Internet safety organization that receives financial support from Facebook, Google, Tagged and other social media companies.

SafeTeens.com

I read a lot of news stories about kids and the dangers out there on the Internet. Once in a blue moon, I find one that puts a smile on my face.

A group of teenagers in British Columbia are dressing up as superheroes and publicly shaming pedophiles that they met online. There are conflicting reports of the number of teens involved in the stings. Some say three, others say four, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are saying enough.

The Mounties are concerned that the group of masked marauders are putting themselves in serious danger by confronting the pedophiles, and are now launching an investigation. This is the latest scrap in a long and contentious relationship between superheroes and law enforcement, who often have similar goals but also key differences in methodologies for foiling evildoers. The B.C. Super Friends don’t necessarily always live by the rules in their fight for the safety of kids, and therefore those who would be their allies become their enemies.

The Super Friends pose as teenage girls on instant messenger and “troll” for men looking to meet underage girls online. They then arrange meetings with the men and show up in full superhero garb. Thus far Batman and the Flash are the only ones reported to be involved, and due to police pressure the group has gone “underground,” telling their fans as much on their YouTube channel.

Their encounters are posted on YouTube but they have language that is not appropriate for kids so I won’t be posting them here. Instead, I’ll post the closing scene from the Dark Knight, which I would have to believe perfectly captures the feelings of the Chiliwack, B.C. police department.

Share This | No comments

InternetSafety.com Blog

This post first appeared in the San Jose Mercury News

by Larry Magid

A study released last week by the Pew Internet & American Life Project had what might be surprising news about online teens. They actually listen to parental advice.

The big take-away from the report, “Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites” was that 69 percent of American teens who use social media say people their age “are mostly kind to one another on social network sites.” Deeper into the report, you’ll find that 86 percent of teens report getting advice from a parent, and 70 percent say they’ve received online safety advice from a teacher or “another adult at school. Almost half the teens say they’ve received advice from siblings and relatives and about 54 percent say they’ve gotten it from television, radio, newspapers or magazines.

The study, which interviewed 799 teens and their parents earlier this year, was sponsored by the Family Online Safety Institute and Cable in the Classroom.

Despite the fact that nearly all of the teens surveyed were wired into social media and mobile devices, just over a third said they have gotten safety advice from websites and only 21 percent from Internet and mobile phone service providers. Four out of six kids had received advice from other adults, such as youth leaders, clergy and coaches.

It was also heartening to read that younger teens are more likely to receive advice from older siblings, along with other relatives and librarians and that “for teens of all ages nd genders, parents are the most commonly mentioned source for advice about online safety.”

The survey didn’t ask whether this advice was sought out, appreciated or effective. But it did probe into whether kids looked for advice after witnessing meanness or online cruelty. More than a third who have seen others be mean or cruel on a social network site said they looked for advice on what to do. More than half the girls looked for advice compared to 20 percent of boys.

Teens who have been bullied themselves were even more likely to seek out help. Of this group, 56 percent reached out for advice compared to the 30 percent of teens who had not been bullied.

It’s encouraging to note that 92 percent of the teens who asked for advice on how to handle online cruelty said the advice was helpful.

Nearly six in 10 said parents have the greatest influence. The study found some differences based on income and ethnicity, but what I found most telling is that parents who are themselves Internet users are more likely to serve as a teen’s biggest influence. That certainly confirms advice that I’ve been giving for years — that parents need to go online and learn firsthand about the types of media their kids use.

This research tracks with other studies about parental influence. Several studies have shown that kids, including teenagers, do listen to what their parents say and pay attention to what their parents do. Even college students, according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, are influenced by parental involvement.

But in order to be effective, advice from parents or any other adults also has to be accurate and actionable. Michigan State professor Kim Witte’s Extended Parallel Process Model is mostly designed to measure how people respond to fear messages, but it can also be applied to other forms of advice. What she found is that effectiveness of messaging depends on the “assessment of the threat and their perceived efficacy.” In other words, people tend to ignore warnings that don’t resonate with their perception of reality and they won’t take advice that doesn’t lead to actions likely to have an impact.

Much of this research is based on behavioral issues like smoking cessation, but it can also apply to online behavior. Giving advice that makes little sense to kids is likely to go nowhere. For example, much of the advice designed to keep kids out of the hands of Internet predators was largely ignored because the kids’ own experience correctly belied the perceived threats.

A few years ago, the media was filled with stories about teens being harmed by online strangers, even though research and the actual experience of the vast majority of teens failed to back up those fears. There is also widespread belief that putting personal information or even photos online can lead to danger, but millions of kids do that everyday and never hear about cases of kids they know having been harmed as a result.

While bullying can be extremely hurtful, 85 percent of teens questioned in this Pew study say that no one has been mean or cruel to them online in the past 12 months, and most don’t bully others. And despite some media reports of widespread “sexting,” only 2 percent of teens say they have ever sent a nude or sexually suggestive picture or video of themselves to others.

SafeTeens.com

I want to share some very encouraging research results that really shine a light on the difference online-safety education can make. At Yoursphere Media, Inc., we conducted a survey among our membership at our kids-only social network Yoursphere.com. Members that participated in the October 2011 survey were between the ages…
Social Networking and Internet Safety Information for Parents

MTV and the AP released a follow-up to their 2009 survey on digital abuse, and it reveals that teens are outpacing adults when it comes to being safe and smart online.

While headlines covering the study have been dire (Study: 30 Percent of Youths Report Sexting – CBS) there are plenty of bright spots, especially if you are more concerned about the online actions of a teen instead of a young adult.

SEXTING:
The Good News: According to the study, the practice of “sexting” or sending racy or illicit texts and photos to someone, is a bigger problem for those aged 18-24 than it is for teens 14-17. The older set sexts at a rate of 19%, while the younger engages in the practice at 7%. So lapses in good judgement are more likely to occur from adults (say, aging football stars or members of Congress) than they are from kids.

More Good News: The incidence of sexting between “online only” acquaintances has decreased from 29% in the 2009 study to just 10% in 2011.

The Bad News: Over half of those who had sexted did so because they were pressured to do so, meaning it is ALWAYS a good time to talk to your kids about how to respond to peer pressure from the opposite sex.

DIGITAL ABUSE:
The Good News: Teens take the problem more seriously than young adults, with 80% responding that it is a serious problem, against 73% of young adults. Also, the number of respondents who said they would intervene on behalf of someone being bullied online is up from the 2009 study, with a majority saying they would intervene.

The Bad News: Teens are more likely to have experienced digital abuse recently (more than 3 in 10) compared to young adults (24%).

DATING IN THE DIGITAL AGE:
The Good News: Only 5% of each group responded that a partner had spread rumors about them online, or used online information to harass or embarrass them.

The Bad News: 41% of respondents experienced some form of digital harassment from their partner, but most of it equates to expecting the partner to immediately respond to IMs, removing former mates from social networking friends, and constantly checking on the partners whereabouts. Basically the 2011 version of the usual paramour paranoia.

So what cane be done to ameliorate the situation? As always, frank discussions with your teens is one of the best ways to prepare them for the online world. Make careful decisions about what sort of interactions your teens are ready for, and make sure they know your reasoning. The survey did find that changing passwords to social networking sites was the most effective strategy for stopping digital abuse, with 80% responding that it worked.

To find out more about the MTV “A Thin Line” project, visit athinline.org.

Share This | No comments

InternetSafety.com Blog

Millions of people “meet” online each year via chat rooms and dating sites. With people having little time to venture out to meet singles, online dating is growing larger and more popular each year. However, there are many risks associated with online dating.

Of course, there are just as many risks associated with going on a date with a complete stranger from a bar you frequent as well. If you or your teens are interested in online dating, be sure to follow these safety tips!

1) Drive Yourself: One of the biggest mistakes people make during initial online dates is revealing where they live. It’s best to meet the date in a public place, with you driving your own vehicle and parking in a location unknown to the other person. This will help you keep from revealing too much to the stranger.

2) Take A Friend: If you are feeling a bit nervous about meeting someone from the Web, try to plan a double date. Take along a friend or two and make the outing a group event. After you get to know your date better, you may want to try it alone.

3) Give Only Email: Again, revealing too much to your date can be a problem. For one thing, if you don’t end up liking the person, you’ll feel better if they only have your email address. Also, it’s safer to give only an email address initially.

4) Never Invite Them In: If you do show the date where you live, be sure not to invite them in. You should never allow someone to come into your home until you know them very well. Otherwise you’ll put yourself at risk.

5) Look Them Up: While some people think it is absurd, it’s perfectly fine to look up a person’s name on the Web or on any jail or criminal sites before going out on a date with them. You might be shocked!

Be a Web Safe Kid

Online safety is not negotiable. There must be a complete agreement between parents, teens and even younger children saying they will look out for one another when it comes to being and staying safe while on the Internet.

Most commonly associated with breaches of online safety are the suggested meet ups between posters who only know one another from online chat rooms.

In these venues it is easy for the more skilled predators to sweet-talk naive teens with promises of hanging out, being friends and even romance.

Sadly, a lot of these meet ups result in missing teens. Teens was not aware of their parent’s expectations when it came to online safety one of these is nary. What failed?

Typically the concept is that this particular internet user is different, or the young adult is way too smart to get taken advantage of and put in harmful situations.

In their online safety talks, parents should make it a point to stress the simple techniques used by online predators and those who would seek to worm confidential information out of the kids.

At the end of the day, parents are still the most powerful online safety tools available.

Be a Web Safe Kid

There must be a complete agreement between parents, teens and even younger children saying they will look out for one another when it comes to being and staying safe while on the Internet. The problems most commonly associated with breaches of online safety are the suggested meet ups between posters who only know one another from online chat rooms.

It is easy for the more skilled predators to sweet-talk naive teens with promises of hanging out, being friends and even romance.

These meet ups can result in missing teens. Even worse, nary a one of these teens was not aware of their parent’s expectations when it came to online safety. Something did not work?

Most commonly it is the idea this one poster is different, or the teen is far too savvy to get caught up in a dangerous situation.

Parents should make it a point in their online safety talks to stress the simple techniques used by online predators and those who would seek to worm confidential information out of the kids. Parents are still the most powerful online safety tools available.

Be a Web Safe Kid

Internet Safety is not negotiable. There must be a complete agreement between parents, teens and even younger children saying they will look out for one another when it comes to being and staying safe while on the Internet. The problems most commonly associated with breaches of online safety are the suggested meet ups between posters who only know one another from online chat rooms.

In these venues it is easy for the more skilled predators to sweet-talk naive teens with promises of hanging out, being friends and even romance. Sadly, a lot of these meet ups result in missing teens. Teens was not aware of their parent’s expectations when it came to online safety one of these is nary. What failed?

Typically the concept is that this particular internet user is different, or the young adult is way too smart to get taken advantage of and put in harmful situations. Parents should make it a point in their online safety talks to stress the simple techniques used by online predators and those who would seek to worm confidential information out of the kids. Parents are still the most powerful online safety tools available.

Be a Web Safe Kid