Teen blog safety

The internet provides the ultimate form of expression. You can be anything online, you can say anything and you have the ability to reach out to people.

Blogs are so appealing because they allow for a kind of interaction previously not enjoyed online. A blog is your own little piece of the web where you decide what content you want to put out there.

Most teen blogs are interest blogs or journal type blogs. Most teens interact with real life friends using their blog as a way to keep in touch and communicate. The problem with this is that teens tend to forget where they are sometimes.

A blog can be viewed by anyone anytime. You can’t imagine who might be reading it. If a teen gets to a place where they feel comfortable and relaxed they are likely to reveal more than they should.

So what are the dangers of a blog? Firstly, a blog is a public piece of the web that means that anyone can read it and comment. Many teens use blogs like a personal journal revealing intimate thoughts and feelings.

Unfortunately this is playing into the internet predators hands. Internet predators and pedophiles are experts at getting information out of their targets. They use this information to connect, to form a relationship and to gain trust. If teens are just handing over this information they are asking to be targeted.

Information your teen should never reveal in a blog includes:

  1. Personal details such as phone number, address, school or family name. This is private information that could be used to make un wanted contact or to identify your teen.

  2. Photographs that can be used to identify them or the area or school they live in. Even something as simple as a background image could give away your location. This is potentially deadly when your dealing with internet predators.

  3. Details about where they hang out. Even though it seems ok to talk to friends about what you did on the weekend or where you went you have to consider the idea that information like that can be used to locate you.

  4. Sexual information, this can invite unwanted attention. This can be disturbing and dangerous for teens. A blog is public domain and therefore should not be used to reveal private information.

  5. Full names of friends of family. This can be dangerous for the people you name as it can be used to locate them.

  6. You should not as a general rule meet with someone you have met on a blog.

Check comments regularly and do not respond to messages that make you uncomfortable or are harassing in any way. You can block offensive people from commenting on your blog.

- Internet Safety Tips -

Name:
Email:

We hate spam as much as you do and we will never share your information.