Follow, Tweet, Facebook, Tag
Many
people see Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other social networking
sites as nothing more than social playgrounds for teens, and a
convenient way for adults to stay in touch with friends. However, these
online social platforms provide a space where children (and adults)
reveal problems and emotions they might not verbalize in other
situations. The kinds of emotions revealed within the social networking
platform can be red-flags and warning signs for serious real-life
problems.
Being involved with internet safety, we hear stories
of kids who are haunted by messages posted by friends who later
committed suicide. The messages were warning signals for help, but
these kids did not know how to respond.
Parents should not
dismiss their child’s online activities as superficial and/or
meaningless play. The status updates, wall posts, notes, etc., involved
in social networking sites allow children to express themselves in a
low-pressure environment. This low-pressure environment can be used to
detect where some teens and children really need help. In fact, social
networking sites offer a unique and crucial avenue for parent-child
communication and bystander awareness.
Involvement in a child’s
online world helps close the generation gap, and increases awareness
for issues that need face-to-face discussion and/or intervention.
Parents and concerned adults should recognize the opportunity the
digital environment provides for intervention and prevention. MySpace
has experienced success connecting its users with a suicide hotline,
but everyone can use common social networking features, like status
updates, to detect warning signs for destructive or dangerous behavior.
This
kind of communication and awareness cultivates an environment of
intervention, prevention and bystander awareness. For example, last
Friday,
Demi Moore helped a desperate woman get help.
When one of her Twitter followers posted a suicide threat, Moore and
several of her Twitter followers called police. While we may never know
the extent to which the Twitter message was serious, at the least,
Moore was able to send help to a woman who most definitely needed it.
Imagine
what could happen in our communities and schools if involved adults
were participating in the online worlds of their children. The result
would be increased safety for everyone--especially the most vulnerable.
So make a Facebook/Twitter/MySpace profile, and send a friend request
to your kids and their friends. With so many status, event, and group
invites/updates, you might find that being involved online makes
offline involvement more fun and informed