Internet Safety Issues

A message from Michael McBrien, Associate Head for Student Affairs . . .

Dear Parents:
I want to address a growing concern that many parents have expressed over the past few months. The issue centers around the use of technology and specific websites that allow individuals to share personal information about them that can be viewed by other registered users on the sites.

These new internet websites provide users with space to create their own web page, where they can post pictures, web logs, surveys, and personal information. These sites also allow for chat rooms to be created and entered. These sites are very popular with college students, and a growing number of high school and middle school students are becoming registered users as well. Two of the most popular sites are www.myspace.com and www.facebook.com.

Some of these sites monitor the content for appropriate postings, and others do not. All of the sites allow for some level of anonymity in the posting of personal information as well as allowing users to contact other users after an initial, free registration.

Used appropriately, these sites pose no harm or threat to the users. The concern that I want to raise with you as parents is that middle school and high school aged students may innocently and naively put information onto the World Wide Web for anyone to access who has registered for these sites.

The issue of how these sites are used is generating much discussion among high schools, colleges, and businesses. Some potential employers are registering on these sites and searching to see what applicants are posting about themselves on the sites. I have been involved in some discussions on a national level that some selective colleges and universities are now searching these sites as they review admissions applications. It is also important to note that once a student is registered on these sites, his or her information is available to individuals who may not have your child’s best interest in mind as they make contact. These are issues that most high school aged students would not be thinking about.

My intent in writing to you is not to generate undue concern over these sites, but to educate you and your children on potential ramifications of being registered users on these sites. I would encourage you to have open and frank discussions with your children about internet safety. Some wonderful resources for you to work from are:
- www.safeteens.com/teenrules.htm
- www.cyberbullying.ca
- www.netsmartz.org/netparents.htm
- www.netsmartz.org/netteens.htm

I appreciate your partnership as we continually work towards providing your children with the best education. Your children are our greatest asset at Baylor, and it is our intent to assist in educating them in and out of the classroom.

Mr. McBrien
Associate Head, Student Affairs