Journal Response--B

As a teenager, I have done my share of social networking via the internet. The website I enjoy most is Facebook. Facebook has become amazingly popular since it was first established by Mark Zuckerberg in 2003, with over 400 million active users worldwide. And while the website is so widely used, there are both pros and cons of Facebook and social networking in general.

The pros of social networking are obvious. Through Facebook, I am able to chat with my friends, share pictures, keep track of friends' birthdays, be a part of certain groups, play games, stay in touch with friends far away, and much, much more. Being on Facebook is extremely entertaining, and a very useful way to communicate. There are countless applications that can be added to a user's profile on Facebook: Bumper Sticker, Farmtown, Top Friends, Quizzes, Social Interview, Music, SuperPoke!, Citizen Sports, and thousands more. Therefore, possibilities of communicating with others and being entertained on Facebook are endless.

But while Facebook has so many pros, it also has a long lists of cons. One obvious downfall of Facebook is that people tend to waste a lot of time online. I know for a fact I am guilty of this myself. Also, Facebook, as with any social networking site, is a big attraction to sexual predators and other dangerous strangers. Many teenagers are not careful about what information they provide to the entire world on their profiles. Cyber-bullying is another problem. Cyber-bullying is any kind of bullying through the use of technology, whether it be a cell phone, instant messaging, or a website. Therefore, Facebook is a very convenient place for cyber-bullying to occur.

There are many things schools can do in order to keep kids safe on Facebook. The main thing schools can do is to block social networking sites from their internet at school. Also, schools should educate their children about the dangers of social networking. Schools should also have a very strict, clear set of rules concerning internet use. Internet use should only be used for educational purposes, and faculty must uphold these rules when they are made. If these rules are broken, appropriate consequences should follow.

While schools will never be able to completely prevent the use of social networking, they can do their best to keep kids safe. Facebook and other websites have many positive uses when used responsibly, and if schools and parents continue to pay close attention, social networking can continue to be a positive thing.