YouTube has a trend tab/link which lets people know what has been and are currently the popular videos circulating on their site. You can find very funny videos or the most annoying videos ever made. When I’m bored I tend to look through this trend site for a laugh. I came across a video of a little boy, about 2 years old, who loves his iPad. I thought it was a cute video then I noticed many other parents who are doing the same thing. So now the iPad is not only being marketed by Apple but also by soccer moms and dads. Now that children are being exposed to this new rave technology, will they be putting aside their Barbie and GI Joe? But the upside to this new trend is the educational spin that could be put on it. Parents can download educational apps to help their children transition into school or help them while they are in school. As oppose to other toys that only serve one function, the iPad has many options.

This new generation of children has been raised in a world full of technological advances. Put any device in their hands and they will teach themselves how to use it in under 20 minutes and become pros. Give the same device to an older person and they will be lost for hours. We have taught children, either directly or indirectly, that it’s all about having the ‘it’ thing. New technology is always being marketed toward young trendy folk who want to be ahead of the game with new gadgets. When children see adults raving over new gadgets they want a piece of the action as well. They want to see what the hype is and why it consumes much of our everyday life.

Sexual Predators Share Disturbing Images on Facebook

With Privacy Tips

MYFOXNY.COM – Hidden behind the happy images on Facebook is a disturbing reality. Child predators are using the site to trade illegal pictures of young children in sexual poses.

We cannot talk enough about privacy while social networking. This article clearly shows that we always have to be careful and alert who wants to be our friend. Reading articles like that makes me cautious. I already checked my privacy setting, because I do  put up many many pictures and occasionally videos from my children. I don’t want to stop posting things, however, I want to protect my information.

Last week we talked in class about that how we can prevent that somebody stills our information. It was in my mind and I was thinking about a lot. The hundred percent secure way is  if we don’t put pictures and videos up on the net. Moreover, if we don’t participate in any social network side. However, we live in the 21st century and we have this great technology that we can take advantage of so, why wouldn’t we? I mean how much is the chance our information can be stollen? How paranoid should we be and how much should we protect ourselves? I don’t want to be the victim of some sick people and close myself out of others. I feel when we read so many bad things about the net we easily can become paranoid. Speaking about myself, I will be keep posting and make sure I secure every little bit of my information.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. (KABC) — A University of Georgia student is crediting Facebook with helping him stop an armed robbery in progress at his family’s home.

Nitesh Bhakta was inside his room on his laptop when he heard his grandmother scream. The robbers had tied up his grandmother and 17-year-old sister at gunpoint.

When he opened his bedroom door, Bhakta saw several hooded men at the front door. He shut the door and climbed into the attic. Bhakta didn’t have his cell phone so he logged onto his computer.

“I just took it out, opened it up, and got on Facebook and started posting,” said Bhakta. “Facebook was the only thing where I knew I could reach someone instantly that was on chat.”

The student’s best friend alerted police who quickly arrived at the house. One of the suspects was captured. Police were still searching for at least two others.

There are many people who do not think that the internet is useful. Moreover, they think that pages like Facebook is damaging young people’s identity, causing depression and taking too much attention from them. This article proves them wrong.                                 A 17 years old boy helped to catch some people who were going to robbed his home. He climbed up to the attic with his computer, then he went on Facebook and contact one of his friends who called the police. I am so surprised what a young person capable to do. After seeing his family members suffering he had enough courage to call for help. He must loved his computer to have with him, and what a great idea going on Facebook. I don’t know what I would have done in the same situation, but I think asking help on Facebook wouldn’t have been among my options.                                                                      It is interesting how Facebook became the part of people’s lives. Ten years ago people barely had internet at home, and owning a computer was a luxury. Now, I don’t know anybody who does not have a computer and a Facebook account. I have friends who are singed in on Facebook 24/7 and share everything what they do. I often think that they are addicted to Facebook, however, reading this article I have to admit that being on Facebook can be very useful. We always talk about that we have to be careful what we share with others or how much time we should spend online. What about if people feel safe if they are online? They always have somebody whom they can talk to; never feel alone. The boy in the article was sure he could reach somebody who would help him. Facebook saved their lives. Who knew what Facebook is good for.

Somehow the article does not appear with my comment. Here is the article:

MYFOXNY.COM – Imagine being able to record and monitor every digital move your teen makes from text messages to emails. High-tech surveillance software turns parents into cyber sleuths, giving them the ability to digitally see it all. But does new surveillance software empower concerned parents or turn them into intrusive cyber spies?

A mobile app called eBlaster mobile can secretly be installed on a child’s phone and send Mom and Dad copies of every text sent and received, including digital pictures. The app is available for either Blackberry or Android phones. Once installed on the mobile device a parent wants to monitor, the program goes into “stealth mode” and is practically undetectable to the teen who is using their cell phone.

It’s digital eavesdropping technology that would expose a teenager’s formerly private digital world to parents prying eyes. And while most teens will dread this technology, many parents will be drawn to it.

SpectorSoft created the app, and the company has similar spyware designed for computers. Parents can install SpectorPro without a child knowing it and use the software to monitor online chats and web surfing. The software records hundreds of digital snapshots of the computer screen and compiles them into a visual log that parents can scroll through to see what a teen has been up to on the computer. The program also has a built-in dictionary that searches for and deciphers acronyms or codes kids use in chats. For example, if a parent comes across a word like ASL in recorded chats, the program will reveal the letters stand for: Age, Sex, Location.

The company claims the program can decipher hundreds of acronyms and cryptic codes:

GNOC = GET NAKED ON CAM
RUH = ARE YOU HORNY?
420 = marijuana

Dr. Jeff Gardere, Fox 5 News contributing psychologist, has some concerns about spying on your kids.

“When do you draw the line when you go from being concerned parent to being a stalker of your kids,” Dr. Gardere says. He thinks parents who want to use this type of software need to be honest with their kids if they plan on installing it on their computer or cell phone.

Otherwise, Dr. Gardere says if a child finds out his or her parent has secretly been spying on them it could have serious repercussions.

“They will feel betrayed and feel major issues of trust from that point on between you and that child,” he says.

Both the eBlaster mobile app and SpectorPro computer monitoring software can be found here:

Spying on Your Kids

This was the headline by an article written by Tim Herrera that spoke about the iPhone having a tracking feature that is a part of the phone that sends your location to a server where it is stored but not shared. The NYT also featured an article named “Your iPhone is Tracking You. So What?” concerning this iPhone feature, in which two researchers discovered the iPhone and iPad keep a minute to minute log of where you have been and where you are going.

Apparently many customers already knew about this feature in the phone but did not mind it. For those who recently found out about the tracker they shared in the same feelings of not caring too much. So, it seems that people are used to or are getting used their privacy being taken away from them. The fine line between public and private content has been crossed so many times that it is difficult to pinpoint which is which anymore. The people with iPhones who do not care if their location is transmitted to a server seem to heavily outweigh those who do care. For those who want and wish to maintain some sort of privacy, even if it is with their phone, suffer because more and more people are finding it ok to share personal information. We are slowly moving towards a society that all will be public knowledge. Similar to Josh Harris’ idea behind “We Live in Public.” Just like in Harris’ Big Brother project, people will eventually get fed up with having no privacy whatsoever but by then it will be too late.

Even as a college student I still enjoy watching cartoons just because I find them to be funny and innocent in nature. One of my favorite shows growing up was Arthur, usually seen on Pbs Kids. One of their newer episodes actually relates to our class; the good and bad behind blogging. Long story short, one of the characters mentions “One should not write anything in an email they would not want to see on the front page of the newspaper.” This comment, I think, sums up what most people should think about before writing anything that can be made public content. This comment relates to many articles and discussions in class concerning texting and emailing. Sending an email or text to a friend is in our nature to ask the simplest questions. But what if in one message we are ranting to a friend about another friend, a work related situation, or anything negative, must we then worry that are private message will be leaked? Well in many instances that has been the case unfortunately.

Now we have to worry about personal conversations being spread through a social outlet, informing the world how we feel and think because one person decided to share another’s thoughts. If we have ever wronged someone, what are the chances that person will take what you have said and twist it to make you look bad? Again, this always happens. People like to make others look bad to feel better about themselves and nowadays it is as easy as ever to do so with evidence.

I was listening to NPR and during a break in the show one of the Advertisements was for a company that took care of the reputation you have online, the company was Reputation, so I pulled over and Googled it.

There it was, Reputation.com,  a website that in basic terms is in the business of providing protection to your good name online.  They say “[t]he growth of the Internet has made managing your online reputation online a necessity” and they will do it for a premium.  The company provides all kinds of online protection from keeping bad press of you away from the top of search engine results, such as bad reviews on blogs and review sites. They also keeping your personal information off numerous websites. Anything that can keep your information away from spammers, identity theives, or “bad” information from future employers, investors, colleagues, etc.  Reputation is there to help you with.

There is not much specifics on what type of websites of what websites they keep your information off, but they’re prices to provide their entry level of services varies from about 4 dollars a month all the way to $700 a month. If your rep has been really destroyed by the internet they have custom plans that go into deeper protection for executives and businesses, but require a call for details.

The Internet brings the age of never forgetting, but Reputation.com is trying to make it harder to remember. My guess is that they will not be the only one’s providing this service in a few years. With information that can’t be deleted on websites like Facebook it leaves room for people to buy back that information or get it off there databases.

UK Teen Busted for Confessing to Library Vandalism on Facebook