file:///Users/dfodeman/Desktop/March11.html
Quick Links Issue: #47 March 2011
Previous Newsletters
Resources for Parents
47th Edition of the Children Online Newsletter.
Children Online Website
One of the many reasons we
value our visits to schools and
conversations with thousands of
Join Our List students each year is because
we learn so much from them!
For example, we often learn
what's popular, what are their
greatest concerns or fears online, and what websites they are
Screen Shots exploring.
Below are links to screen
This year we've noticed a trend amongst younger students.
shots of Gmail account
Google's Buzz is becoming very popular. Yet most parents
settings, chat and Buzz
aren't aware that their children are using it or how public Buzz
samples. Personal information
conversations are. Buzz is the topic of this month's
has been removed for obvious
newsletter.
reasons.
One additional note... ChildrenOnline.org is now accepting
Gmail Account
workshop dates for the 2011-2012 academic year. If you are
Buzz Settings
interested in having us conduct student, parent or faculty
Buzz Setup
workshops, please contact us via email or our phone
Buzz Profile
(413-214-1225). Here is an article about our recent visit to
Buzz discussion 1
the Hotchkiss School to conduct workshops.
Buzz discussion 2
As always we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Related Resources: Best wishes,
Marje Monroe and Doug Fodeman
Coincidentally, the good folks
at WindowsSecrets.com just Contact Marje or Doug via email at
released their March 3rd marjem@childrenonline.org or dougf@childrenonline.org for
newsletter with an article that
information about our programs or consulting services.
addresses the risks associated
with lack of privacy online.
It is worth reading and What's the Buzz About Buzz?
reviewing their "ten tips for
protecting personal This year we have been hearing about the growing
information." popularity of Google Buzz accounts amongst
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Windows Secrets personal fourth through sixth graders at many schools
security baseline By Jan across the country. "Buzz" is an online social
Bultmann networking site (similar to Facebook and
MySpace) that is automatically provided to anyone
=================
with a Google Gmail account. Gmail accounts are
Marian Merritt, a Norton free and it takes just a minute to open an
Internet Safety Advocate with account. Gmail is an outstanding service, valued
Symantec Corporation, recently by many. However, most parents don't realize
made three good suggestions that if they choose to allow their child a Gmail
for better protection of
account, they are also providing instant
Facebook accounts. They are:
messaging, chat and a social network account
1. Register multiple email with it. Google also provides instant messaging
addresses on your Facebook and chat services to all their Gmail users.
account and select a security
question and answer that only Like any social network, Gmail users have the
you will know. A helpful
ability to carry on threaded discussions with other
Facebook tool to do this and
users. The service makes it easy to create a
rate your security level is
located here. public profile, invite other Gmail users to follow
and participate in conversations. Many children
2. On your Facebook account, use Gmail for their email accounts, and by
go to "Account" (top right extension, Buzz.
hand corner) and click the
down arrow until more options
One of the most worrisome problems associated
appear. Click on "Account
Settings." Near the bottom of
with the use of Buzz is that the discussions on
the page is "Account Security." Buzz are completely public and searchable using
Click on "change." Select Google. Typically, all that is needed to locate a
"Secure Browsing (https) by user is the user's Gmail account name.
clicking on the box. Then select Unfortunately, as is often the case with children
both email and text message
using social networking sites, the discussions that
alerts for any new logins. Click
a few children have are vulgar, denigrating and
"Save." [Our note: This will
protect users from sidejacks create a very negative impression about them.
which were made possible by Due to children's lack of understanding about
the release of Firesheep in privacy, they often post too much personal
October, 2010.] information. An example of this is provided here.
This young Buzz user listed herself as ten years
3. Any evidence of hacked
old and provided a list of the schools she
accounts should be reported to
Facebook immediately by filling attended, her church, and the names of her
out the form found here. siblings, as well as friends' names. (We have
wiped some of the information for obvious
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reasons.)
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iPhone Config Utility:
Though not related to this If a child has a Gmail account we recommend that
month's topic, we have
parents log into their account and explore their
recently learned about a new
app for the iPhone and iPod
use of Buzz and Chat. Ask your child for the
Touch that gives parents some account name and password. You may also want
controls over their children's to Google their name (or nickname) to see what
use of the iPhone and iPod can be viewed in a typical search. Visit
Touch. And it is free! Google.com and enter the words "google profile
CHILDS NAME" (without the quotes). Sometimes
iPhone Config Utility allows finding them can take a bit of time and creativity
users to authorize the
to think of how they might be naming
installation of applications on
an iPhone/Touch and other themselves. It may be easier to find their Gmail
features. It is not the most account by simply opening the web browser on
"user friendly" app but don't their computer and looking through their history
let that stop you. It can be set or by looking for their friends' names.
up via Windows or Mac (OS
10.6) computers. Though
While it is possible to disable Buzz and Chat from
designed for businesses,
several features are valuable to
a Gmail account, the user of that account can
parents who's children have re-enable it. Also, it is important to understand
these devices. See a that it is possible to use Buzz from today's
screenshot. smartphones so a user can hide their activity on
their computer by signing up for a new account
and using it from a mobile device such as an iPad,
iPod Touch, or Smartphone. Also, note that the
� Children Online 2011
default setting of the chat feature of a Gmail
Doug Fodeman & Marje
account is to save chats so they can be searched
Monroe.
For permission to reprint later.
please contact
DougF@ChildrenOnline.org We have provided links to several screen shots
(see sidebar) so parents can see what/where a
buzz account is in Gmail and where the disable
INTERNET SAFETY
CURRICULUM button can be found. Clicking "disable" brings the
user to all the settings tabs for all Gmail account
Safe features. These settings are worth exploring.
Practices
for Life As we have written about in other newsletters, we
Online
do not recommend that children have social
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networking accounts until age sixteen. We have
Children written several newsletters for parents on this
Online has
topic if you would like further information,
a
including this special article on the topic. Keep in
curriculum
on Internet Safety that mind that before age sixteen, most children and
includes nearly 100 student young teens are not developmentally ready for the
exercises and lots of decision-making issues that arise in social
information on many topics networking sites. And Google Buzz is a social
including social networks, networking site that demands attention and
instant messaging,
careful screening from parents.
cyberbullying, online
marketing, scams directed at
kids, protecting privacy online,
avoiding identity theft and
impersonation, creating strong About Children Online
passwords and more. Children Online offers innovative and comprehensive workshops
on Internet safety and online education to students, parents,
There is faculty and administrators. Our approach, unique in the field of
also a Internet safety, combines a thorough understanding of Internet
student technologies, child development and counseling, to focus on the
impact of the internet on the social, emotional and language
edition
development of young people.
which
includes Doug Fodeman and Marje Monroe, experts in technology,
cartoons counseling and education, work together to provide invaluable
and "Did research and tools for parents and schools with practical real-life
you know" solutions to the issues faced by young people online. Since 1997,
sections of Marje and Doug have spoken to thousands of students, teachers
interesting facts for students. and parents. They have several publications in the area of Internet
safety and offer a free online newsletter. More detailed information
can be found at ChildrenOnline.org.
To learn more or place an
order visit our publications
page at ChildrenOnline.org or
go directly to our publisher's
pages:
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Student Edition at Lulu.com
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