Blogging

 don’t mean to be mean but I have had enough with homework. – Tween blogger   

Do you ever wonder what your children think about? Perhaps you should read their Web logs or “blogs.” Blogs are a type of online journal that children use to share their thoughts and feelings; they may be in written or video format. Posting blogs allows children to develop both their technical and creative skills. It also lets them connect to other users with similar interests and write about their experiences, their personal lives, popular culture, and any other topic that crosses their minds. 

If done safely, blogging can be a good exercise that encourages critical thinking and creative writing. Unfortunately, children sometimes forget their blogs are not private and share information not intended for outsiders. Then, there are those children who simply do not care if their information is public; the more eyes they attract, the better.

Risky Behavior

Some blogs track the number of visitors and have places for their audiences to comment or rate them. As a result, children may engage in risky behavior—such as posting intimate details—in order to gain popularity on the Internet. Other risky behavior includes not using privacy settings, or posting inappropriate or illegal content.

These risky behaviors leave children open to being targeted by predators and cyberbullies. For example, a child’s peers may take information shared in a blog and use it to humiliate him at school. Likewise, a child sharing inappropriate content in a blog may find herself suspended from school or losing out on future educational opportunities. They might also find themselves approached by someone who intends them harm.