Is Google Buzz a danger to kids?
Google Buzz is a brand new social networking and messaging platform from Google and, according to the LA Times, it could be putting your children at risk.
The Times article said that technology analyst Charlene Li discovered that her 9 year old daughter had unintentionally shared what was supposed to be a private conversation via Buzz. The article went on to quote Charlene as saying, “Imagine parents (and kids) checking out their Buzz accounts to find that ‘iorgyinbathrooms’ is following them, which is exactly what happened with my child’s account.”
Should you be worried about Buzz? In my opinion, yes – but no more than you should be concerned about any social networking or messaging platform (except maybe Chatroulette!). “iorgyinbathrooms” could just as easily have followed Charlene’s daughter on Twitter or befriended her on Facebook. The fact is that you need to be aware of what your kids are doing when they use their computers and you need to be familiar with any social networking or messaging platforms that they are using. And education is also important. You teach your kids not to speak to strangers in the park and you should also be teaching them not to speak to virtual strangers.
You can read more about this on Charlene Li’s blog.
What do you think? Do you allow your kids to use Google Buzz?
Unfortunately, kids do not think in terms of safety, that is why parents have to be more diligent than ever if we are to keep our kids safe, that includes our teenagers. Predators study children and teens their speech patterns, reactions, and who is needy, gullible and/or has not been taught to watch out for signs of trouble. The greatest of these signs is a stranger who wants to get together or tells the child not to tell their parents or friends about what they are doing. It is high time that social networking sites be held accountable to their customers. In this case the customer is the parent we pay the bills.
Along these same lines is the danger of geotagging. Kids upload geotagged photos allowing these perverts direct access to location information. Try it yourself, use commonly used software and type in the latitude and longitude, go to another software take a satellite view then a street view of the area, house, hiding places and voila. All of this software is free and probably resides on your own computer. Once a picture is uploaded, unauthorized coping is very possible and likely.
Kids live in a world of their own, think back to when you were a child, a teenager. You knew nothing other than your own world. As parents we know what danger is, at least most of us do. Teach in a respectful manner and do not allow computers in unsupervised areas and damn right snoop, which is your right as a parent and protector.
I have experience in this area of child safety and have first hand knowledge of situations that could have turned bad. Privacy issues aside the safety of our children is of primary importance.
Would I allow my children to use Buzz perhaps? However, they would know not to use their real full name nor use anything that would expose them or their friends. Thankfully, my children are grown, I have taught them to be wise to the dangers. I know this to be true because I tested their defences.
The times article is poignant and should be, as I am going to, distributed to all area schools. This article alone is cause for great concern and much needed action and parental education. You can make your children safe; it is doable now, tonight before bed.
Another aside, the smart (cell) phone open to texting, and other forms of social networking.
I apologize for being long winded but this subject touches my heart deeply. I would be the first, without hesitation to put a bullet into the head of any person who would harm our children or teens. For that I do not appologize.
Hi, sometimes i see copied on google trends and the blog still rank well what do you think about it?
Google Buzz is really good but not safe for kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry kids!!!!!!!!