There Is Such Thing as Too Much Sharing, Cybertraps for the Young

Lane, F, S. (2011). There is such thing as too much sharing, Cybertraps for the young (pp. 92-108). Chicago, NTI Upstream.

In this Book Lane’s (2011) argument is that regular discussion and communication surrounding the sensitivity of personal information online is the most effective tool for protecting our children. Social Networking Sites (SNS’s) collect a significant amount of personal information when first joining. Photos, personal comments, geo-location and much more can all of serve to expose individuals to potential harassment, bullying and online advertising companies. The research shows that the Children’s Online Protection Act of 1998 (CPOOA) is not being respected, resulting in some companies paying up to $1 million in fines. Parents must be informed and give consent to information being collected from children under the age of thirteen, therefore Lane (2011) argues that responsibility for knowing how much information children are sharing relies predominantly on parents’ supervision and monitoring. Developing a basic understanding of the Internet and how children are using it will give parents an insight into the potential risks.

The misuse of personal information has caused consequential harm, in some cases resulting in suicide. Lane (2011) discusses two suicides, that of Jesse Logan in 2009 and Tyler Clementi in 2010 that resulted as a direct consequence of cyber bullying and harassment. This information is a reminder of the seriousness of SNS’s and the negative impact they are having on young people and their privacy. Although the information is not up to date, there are a number of relevant issues examined in the following essay.

O’Keeffe, G. S., Clarke-Pearson., & K, Council on communications and media. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, March 28, 800-804, doi: 10. 1542/peds.2011-0054

In this Clinical Report