The Perils of Social Media

[sahibjee]

REally? You need to get out more

Breaking news: Urban Dictionary: little pricks

lol, i am simply saying is that the arrested folks are innocent until proven guilty, and for all we know the cops may have gotten the wrong kids. who knows. certainly the perpetrators should be punished if in fact the allegations are correct.

[DowntroddenDad]

Really...you stand by those words that you "know what she is doing", or what she wants you to think she is doing?

I hope you are right mate

I hope so too. I do spend one on one time with her, and she is fairly open about her interest in boys, and what is going on in her life. I am going to be taking her shopping for a prom dress soon.....

[DowntroddenDad]

I think that's awesome Downtrodden. However, I don't think we know the capabilities that these sites have and neither do the children.

Quite frankly, social media is a scary thing. What is scarier is the fact that the children are being taught how to use these instruments. Just last week I had discovered that my ten year old had created a you tube account and had been making videos and posting them. I THOUGHT I was a vigilant mother.

I honestly fear for her safety. She is incredibly book smart, but extremely gullible and I can say that she would be the 'kid' who would fall for a boyfriend sexting her and convincing her to send photos.

So, until I can find her a stainless steel bubble I will continue to fret and learn as much as I can so I can try to keep her as safe as possible. Seems like no one else cares.

Of course it depends on the child. My youngest doesn't use it much, my middle daughter is 17 and does use FB a fair amount. We have a good relationship, and I know what she is doing. My son doesn't use it at all.

For a ten year old, I would insist that you be able to look over her should any time at all.

[sahibjee]

"little pricks"

= prejudice

[mom2three]

My kids mother and I both see everything my kids post on FB. I don't ignore any of it. I check out who they are friending, and how secure their pictures are (friends or friends of friends only).

And they know that. And they behave accordingly.

I think that's awesome Downtrodden. However, I don't think we know the capabilities that these sites have and neither do the children.

Quite frankly, social media is a scary thing. What is scarier is the fact that the children are being taught how to use these instruments. Just last week I had discovered that my ten year old had created a you tube account and had been making videos and posting them. I THOUGHT I was a vigilant mother.

I honestly fear for her safety. She is incredibly book smart, but extremely gullible and I can say that she would be the 'kid' who would fall for a boyfriend sexting her and convincing her to send photos.

So, until I can find her a stainless steel bubble I will continue to fret and learn as much as I can so I can try to keep her as safe as possible. Seems like no one else cares.

[DowntroddenDad]

I agree, it also behoves parents to educate their kids about online activities. Nobody thinks it's going to happen to them until it does. Again I keep going back to the daughters, always quick to put up provocative pictures of themselves...where are the parents when they are doing this, too busy friending their own kids? It's obvious why the girls do it, to get attention (what they hope is the right one)

Yes people should be allowed to wear what they want and post what they want, but unfortunately we don't live in that Utopian world.

Unfortunately the law is what it is, and until they turn 18, they are just that...minors.

My kids mother and I both see everything my kids post on FB. I don't ignore any of it. I check out who they are friending, and how secure their pictures are (friends or friends of friends only).

And they know that. And they behave accordingly.

[Abeona]

There needs to be most serious accountability for teenagers who carry on this way. I don't think they should be allowed to hide behind the young offender's act. If you're old enough to behave like a barbarian, you're old enough to be treated like one.

Anonymous did a lot of work on a rape case in the states that had received almost no press and was being pretty much covered up by the school involved, until Anonymous starting d0xing and releasing names, and staging protests. They worked their butts off to get people to pay attention to what was going on.

They're not perfect, but at least they care when the authorities would rather ignore the problem.

We need a Guy Fawkes smiley on here

[sjandme]

Are you sure about the bullying in the Ottawa Sens case? Her cousin was in a group with my daughter. I know about another event - details that did not make it to mainstream media.

I commend the Nova Scotia mom for coming forward. Given the details available, you can understand how this snowballed - how social media makes strangers looking for a thrill, peers with an axe to grind, whoever... witness to a shameful event.

If we are the focus of an attack, we can imagine the worst (especially a typically self-conscious teenager) - we are totally unaware of the support or potential support that is out there. I can only imagine the emotional pain that young woman experienced before making that horrible choice.

I absolutely hate that this is happening. We need to give kids perspective - whether they are an audience, a victim or a wannabe attacker.

I like the "You are Not Alone" commercial - seen on CTV. If a teen knows that that some "sh*ts" do not actually speak for the majority, it is easier to cope, rise above attempts to exclude, ridicule, etc.

Also, other people are more likely to question what did happen - not just what was alleged.

That's where there is the greatest leverage - the so called bystanders stepping up.

A teen was beat up earlier this week in Ottawa. She is fighting back with the support of her parents and the media. One of the attackers has already expressed remorse in an interview.

It starts with human nature; social media has changed the dynamic - very bad outcomes at times. There are ways to minimize potential damage, keep things cohesive, positive. I hope.

[DowntroddenDad]

Certainly took the local police a long time to investigate the complaint. And that made those kids feel like they got away with it, that gave them the confidence to taunt her.

It is very sad, a young life destroyed. Social media may have made it more visible, but the initial incident and taunting afterwards could have happened in the days before social media for certain.

[sahibjee]

this is so sad, police are so quick to charge DV even when they know its false, yet here pictures have been circulated and proper investigation could have certainly let to the origins hence uncovering the perpetrators but the cops chose to refrain. thats just beyond comprehension