Online Diaries: Where's the Privacy?
Erika Sorocco, 18
California
We've all heard of different online diaries such as www.teenopendiary.com (now opendiary.com) and www.diaryland.com. Diaries have always been special items. You keep all of your most private thoughts in them. You don't write in them to show your private thoughts to your friends. But with online diaries, that's exactly what you do. Where's the privacy in that?
There are pros to having an online diary. For example, you could write about a crush, and then your crush reads it and asks you out. But what if you write about a crush who isn't crushing back, and then they start teasing you about it? That would be pretty embarrassing.
Also, what happens if you write something that isn't really appropriate and your parents come across it? Even if you deny that you wrote it, with the technology of today it can all be tracked back to your computer.
What if a pedophile is on the site and reads something you wrote and then begins sending you e-mails? That can be pretty scary, and if they've read your diary they'll know everything about you. It might make you think they want to be your friend, or that they're a person your age, when in reality they aren't.
I'm not joking about any of this stuff, I'm sure it can happen, and if it did, it would be a pretty awkward and uncomfortable situation—which is why you have to take precautions.
If you like the idea of keeping an online diary and sharing things with people, I suggest writing your REALLY private thoughts in a diary that you keep hidden, where no one will ever be able to read them, and keep an online diary that has your less private thoughts. I'm sure many people do that, and in reality it's a better idea.
Have Your Own Privacy Policy
- Are you hesitant when adding strangers on social networking services?
- Do you get to know somebody before calling them your "friend"?
- Have you ever felt endangered when a stranger tried to contact you?
- Have you ever wondered or asked why a stranger has contacted or befriended you?
- Are there any safety measures you have taken to check the info of a stranger you met online?
- Have you told your parents if a new "friend" wanted to meet you in person?
If you answered "NO" to any of these questions, you might need to watch your step! It's easier to assume that strangers have good intentions, but think of how often you bend the truth when meeting people online! If you answered "YES" to all of them, take a look at the questions again and really think about them. If you still answer "YES"—congratulations, you are putting your web safety first!
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Are you using MySpace or other social networking sites? How do you stay safe when you are meeting people online? Have you had any problems?
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