Diaries with a Lock Belong to the Past

English 203

November 16, 2005

Essay #1

Diaries with a lock belong to the past

Remember the diaries with the lock? Remember the hidden key? The olden days when teens used to confess their biggest secrets to the diary have past. In our days millions of teens who grew up with a mouse in one hand and a cell phone in the other now pour out their hearts, minds and trouble in personal online diaries. Here is how it works: First, teens register and create an account with the web site. Next, they can begin to personalize the design of their own online diary. Now they are ready to post their thoughts, pictures, gossips, songs, videos and much more online. The problem is: anyone in the whole world with an internet connection can have a front-row view of these diaries. It is as simple as that. Even more seriously, internet predators can use blogs to collect information about teens they plan to target. As discussing the subject, many questions are raised. Do teens and pre-teens have the right to create such personal sites? Do teens have the right to post blogs? Are these sites private in any way?

The internet is developing from a tool for exchanging information to a place where one can do everything that used to be done in the physical world. The Internet has revolutionized everyday life for millions of people around the world. It is becoming a place to be, especially for teenagers. According to CNN the internet is a part of a teen's life just as much as cars, TV, friends or music. Having grown up with the Internet, it is a natural part of teenagers' lives. Teens have naturally progressed from sending an e-mail and instant-messaging friends to posting personal Web pages on sites such as MySpace, LiveJournal, Xanga or other social networking sites. In such Web pages, teenagers sign up and get a Web page of their own where they post anything they want from photographs to gossips, which can be viewed by millions of other members. Members also collect friends, who link to each other's sites and post photos on them. The more friends and the cooler they are, the cooler you are. Nothing new but the way it goes. People exchange instant messages and create blogs, share music and post their personal interests. It's like hanging out together, except not in the same spot. Who needs a telephone or a car anymore? There is no need to leave the house any longer. All one need is a compatible chair, computer and an internet connection.

At least 8 million teens blog, according to Intelliseek. One may wonder what is a blog? A blog is a growing movement in the preteen/teen world. A blog (from 'web log') is an online journal. It is similar to a written diary in that it is usually contains personal thoughts, feelings and experiences. The difference, however, is that blog entries are posted on the Internet. A blog is less like a journal or diary and more like a big billboard put up in the mall for everyone to see. Kids are, of course, permitted to some privacy but most blogs are not private. After all anyone can view them. Can blogs be "undone"? Unfortunately, once something is posted in a blog, it is difficult if not impossible to take it back. Even blogs with privacy and delete features can not take the damage back. It is impossible to determine how many people have seen it and gained the information. Where do teens blog? Blogging websites vary extremely in content and the different rules. Teens blog at sites such as Myspace.com, Xanga.com, MeetSpot and many more.

Teens clearly have the right to use blogs, there are not any officially laws, yet, forbidding them from doing so. Teens, even though they are young, have the right for free speech. Teens can express their opinions and thoughts to anyone, even the whole world. At least 8 million teens blog, according to Intelliseek. According to CNN, MySpace has exploded to 34 million users in just two years and it is mostly used by 14- to 34-year-olds. These sites are supposed to be a social-networking site for older teens, but young kids, too young to even sign up by the company's own rules use the site. Yes, they do use bad words. Teens reveal everything from where they go to high school to where they live, work, play and study -- all the big no-no's. Most sites have an age limit for their users. Xanga requires its users be at least 13 years old before they can create their own online journal. MySpace requires users to be 16. The only thing one has to do is simply lie about the age, it is as simple as that, and many kids do. MySpace.com officials say all users agree not to post messages containing nudity, violence or offensive subject matter. It also prohibits the use of last names, addresses and telephone numbers. Many users stick on to those rules. Some do not. Most teenagers do not see MySpace as a site that causes problems and it is simply a tool to keep up with old friends and make new ones.

Profiles in such sites as MySpace, Xanga, MeetSpot and more are defiantly not private or personal. A diary losses it value as "private" when millions of people have read it. There is a real privacy concern when teens share private information about themselves to anyone who views their posted blogs. The Internet is a great tool but it is different from any other technology before it. The internet creates a whole set of unknowns. Blogs, like so many things on the Internet, have the potential to make panic in parents. Teens post on their sites and blogs everything. In their blogs, teens complain about parents, school, teachers and homework. They use language that would make parents ashamed. They share daily dramas, inappropriate material, post songs from the latest bands, display pictures of themselves, sometimes wearing next to nothing. Mostly they simply relay the details of their daily lives.

Parents are just worried, it is their obligation and responsibility to care about their children. Think about that: millions of people can view the teenagers' web. Anything that one posts