Should under 13s use Facebook for education??

The founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg  has said that he wants to let children under 13 use it!!!

There are age limits on these SNS from the Chirldren's Online Privacy Protection Act, even though it is estimated that seven and a half million of Facebook's 600 million users are under 13.

Mr. Zuckerberg wants to change the law because of the educational benefits of the site....but what about the risks?? Zuckerberg says that:

"My philosophy is that for education you need to start at a really, really young age. Because of the [legal] restrictions we haven't even begun this learning process."

You can't deny that he is absolutly correct about education, there are numerous studies that are showing that the internet and SNS do have educational benefit, a University found that '

'94 percent used the Internet, 82 percent go online at home and 77 percent had a profile on a social networking site. When asked what they learn from using social networking sites, the students listed technology skills as the top lesson, followed by creativity, being open to new or diverse views and communication skills.'

But these are university students, would SNS be of benefit to children of such a young age?

720 view - 'Pole-dancing' primary school teachers =D

I remembered this article from a few months ago, probably because I had such a strong reaction to it:

Shock! horror! Primary school teachers drink alcohol!! Clearly they cannot be fit to teach!!

What a load of sh....

Unfortunately, a teachers Facebook page hadn't been set to the full privacy settings, again I reiterate what I've already said in the past, that privacy issue can be a right pain in the bum, you have to mess about with it for ages, I've even had to get people delete me and check its all blocked up!

The group went out on a hen night, where the time honoured tradition of dressing up in a mini army/sailor/burlesque (on this occasion it was army) outfit and playing on poles was dutifully carried out by the group, then the 'OMG what was I doing' pictures appeared and by Monday 'back to work' mode set in and they went about their jobs.

Unfortunately, a parent of a pupil at the school saw the pictures, printed them off  and post them through neighbours doors including this letter:

‘If you are as appalled as I am by these images which these tramps post freely for the world to see, how safe are our children? What does this tell you about this school and how it is being run? These women teach my children, but not for much longer'

Of course I agree about the profile privacy issue, but it was caught and dealt with appropriately, but for goodness sake!!!....really

REALLY!!! I come from a military town and as a result have a few friends who have done tours in Iraq/Afghanistan and I'll tell you know, you should see the pictures of what they get up to!! (If I get some more comments I'll post your one, how they get into that position with a helicopter would send you head spinning)....does this mean their not fit to be in the armed services, because their profiles aren't set to privacy, anyone can look at those pictures...so is it a gender issue or what job your doing issue????

Another thing about this article that got me going was the note written on it!! What aggression and malice in those threats!! Again, quick to judge without taking the foresight to think how you sound! Excellent example (again) to your children, instead of dealing with the issue in an appropriate manner, dealing with the issue in a completely childish way.

Also, what are your children doing on Facebook at that age anyway, and what are the chances of them actually seeing this 'awful, trampy picture' of them enjoying a hen night, most appalling image they could see, I'm sure no parent would ever allow their children to see anything like this, or maybe we should start keeping our newspapers on the top shelf where no child can see on a DAILY basis of all sorts of issues, not the least a group shout of their teachers holding a glass of wine....

420 views - Social network sites 'have duty' to stop cyberstalking

This news report (http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14085766) is based on the first study into cyberstalking!!! considering MySpace launched in 2003 and Facebook in 2004 and Bebo in 2005 its a little bit overdue as I am willing to bet cyberstalking started the moment these SNS started, who hasn't looked up their exes, the girl we hated at school, our crushes etc. But when is having a a quick glance turn into a serious case of cyberstalking. Check out this story-

"Newsbeat spoke to another male victim who had been stalked online by a former workmate for more than three years. 'He started dozens of bogus accounts on every social networking site you can imagine," he said. "He's used those to contact my family, my friends and my schoolmates."

This isn't an isolated case, Working to Halt Abuse Online worked on 349 cases of cyberstalkig in 2010 - http://www.haltabuse.org/resources/stats/index.shtml

To be honest, I think that this figure is well below what that actual figure of cyberstalking cases is....

360 views- Good little video for kids on e-safety

Found this video today, definatley gave me an uncomfortable feeling, casting did a good job on the bloke!

Check out the realisation on the kids faces when the interviewer starts asking about their SNS! Classic!

Excellent point on how she didn't even know she could have privacy settings on her SNS!!

Drat, they did a better cyberbullying video then me :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o8auwnJtqE

90 views - Kent Trust eSafety Stategy 2012

So, in Sept 2011 (how very up-to date of me :) where they have release a document called 'using social media and technology in an education setting'

Basically the jist of it is, in the beautiful area of Kent, they have recognised that using social media tools such as blogs, facebook and wikis are ' excellent tools for teaching and learning and can provide exciting and new opportunities for schools to engage, communicate and collaborate with pupils and the wider community.' HAZARRRR!!! Social Media being encouraged in the classroom??!! never thought I'd see the day....does that mean teenagrs can bring in thir mobile phones again??

Unfortunatly I can't see it happening, but check out the idea of managing primary school e-mailing and social networking....intresting thoughts

http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk//Children/safeguards_esafety.cfm

SMILES =D