Online Privacy of Teens

Despite plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary, a new study shows that most teens are responsible online. Of the teen profiles studied on MySpace, over 90% did not list their full name and 40% restrict viewing to friends. Justin Patchin, assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who conducted the study, said there are several benefits from MySpace profiles and online activity such as learning HTML, networking with friends, and a sense of identity and improved self esteem. "The benefits far outweigh any potential risks," Patchin said. Yet there still are regular media reports about people who have lost jobs or been expelled from school for posting irresponsibly. What steps should we take to protect our online privacy? The parents who are raising teenagers now did not have Internet when they were growing up. What steps should they take to protect their children? Congress has recently dropped attempts to pass the DOPA (Deleting Online Predators Act) which would ban access to social sites in schools. Is there a government solution to the problem or a family solution? Or is there even a problem?

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