Is Facebook getting your kids drunk?
August 31, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
(CBS/What’s Trending) – A survey released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University said that teens that have seen pictures of kids getting drunk, passed out or using drugs on social networking sites are three times likelier to use alcohol and four times likelier to use marijuana. What’s Trending wonders could the social network be leading our teens to illegal activities?
Eighty percent of parents, however, don’t think that seeing illicit behavior on social networks makes kids more likely to do illegal activities or might not even know about.
Even though Facebook’s rule state that those under 13 can’t sign up, poker pro Annie Duke said it’s easy for preteens to sign up. Her own daughter was set up with an account by an older cousin, and despite Duke’s attempts to get her taken off the network, she still gets notifications from Facebook even with a disabled account. Her two older children, who are over 13, are allowed to have accounts, but they must be friends with their mother so she can monitor their activities. Duke added, “I feel like there’s parental issues though, why is a parent allowing their 10 year-old on Facebook?”
Writer Joel Stein, however, had the opposite experience. After creating a profile for his fetus son, he was surprised to have the account taken down despite no evidence of illegal activities. (We assume he was kidding, but with Joel you never know)
When discussing the images of drunkenness and drugs, Stein said, “This is the last of my concerns about what kids are seeing on the internet.”
Duke pointed out that in the end it’s all up to the parents to keep track of their children’s behavior. “(Some people say) you shouldn’t have any online shopping…because a kid might start using the parent’s credit card,” she explained. “No, it’s the parents responsibility to make sure your kid’s not stealing your credit card.”
Do you think social media is doing well in the category of social responsibility?
The What’s Trending show is produced by Shira Lazar Productions and the Disrupt Group, who are solely responsible for the content, opinions and viewpoints.
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Opinions differ on student/ teacher Facebook relations
August 31, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
For Missouri teachers, it is time to see who their friends are.
A new Missouri law is putting limits on who teachers can friend on social networking sites. The law bans teachers from having social networking relationships with students that are not accessible to the students’ parents or guardians.
Supporters of the Missouri law argue social networking could be used by adults to facilitate sexual harassment or sexual abuse.
Opponents of the law argue some students may feel more comfortable confiding in a trusted adult through social networking.
In Newton, neither students nor teachers can access Facebook on school computers because of filtering software. That software is required by law, said Jill Lachenmayr, Newton assistant superintendent for human resources.
The district does not have a specific policy concerning teacher and student use of Facebook off campus.
However, Lachenmayr said the district has a blanket policy on student-staff relations.
The policy states, “Staff members shall maintain professional relationships with students, which are conducive to an effective educational environment.”
The policy goes on to say teachers may not submit students to sexual or racial harassment or have any interaction that is sexual in nature regardless of student’s age, status or consent.
The district’s policy on racial and sexual harassment goes on for several pages.
Lachenmayr said this covers both on-campus and off-campus interactions between students and teachers.
“I trust that our teachers are professional and only want what is best for students,” Lachenmayr said. “We trust that parents are going to monitor kids’ activities. As a school district, we are committed to providing a quality education. If a problem ever arises, we have a policy in place to take care of that.”
She said positive relationships between students and teachers are an important part of the learning process.
“Positive relationships are formed and maintained in the classroom on the athletic field and in the community,” she said, “and social networking can be a part of that positive interaction.”
Nathan Dick, Newton High School teacher and local NEA representative, disagreed. He compared being on Facebook with students to being in a classroom alone with a student.
“I don’t think (Facebook) has really been talked about,” Dick said. “As someone who looks after the safety of teachers, I don’t think I would tell one of my peers to use Facebook.”
Dick said he prefers e-mail and only advises the use of open bulletin boards that are available for public view.
Although Dick personally does not have a Facebook page, he said he does not support the Missouri law.
“I support the freedom of access and movement,” he said.
Some students at Newton High School said they have teachers as friends on Facebook, and the general attitude is it is no big deal.
All three students the Kansan spoke with said their parents and other family members are friends on Facebook and can see what is posted on their walls and their list of friends.
Raymond Gallegos, a sophomore, said he friended his English teacher because he was having trouble in that subject and wanted to ask her questions.
He says he sends messages to teachers when he is sick, so he can find out about homework and not fall behind.
Chloe Denno, a sophomore, friended an old middle school teacher, and Brianna Gouvion, junior, said she friended one of her little brother’s former teachers she had gotten to know.
The students say it is faster and easier to use the messaging system on Facebook, and they don’t use their e-mail often.
The students said sometimes it is easier to text or Facebook about problems than to talk about them face to face.
“I think I am very vocal,” Denno said. “But if it is a sore subject, I have a hard time talking about it. It is easier to write it down or text than to say it in person.”
Gouvion said having teachers and other adults as friends on Facebook makes her think twice about what she posts to the Internet.
Raymond said he agreed.
“You have to remember the golden laptop rule: Once it is on the Internet, it is there forever,” he said.