BPS Cybersafety Website Redesigned

Just in time for the start of a new school year, the Boston Public School's cybersafety website has been redesigned with a fresher look, easier navigation and updated content.   Teachers, parents and students can access the site for information, downloads and links to internet safety resources.  One of the latest downloads just added to the website is the internet safety comic book created by TechBoston interns during the summer of 2007.  This past summer a new crop of internet safety student heroes were hired by TechBoston and sent to work to create new materials and perform internet safety outreach in local Boston Public Libraries.  We will have much more about what they accomplished this summer in a later blog post.  

Channel 5 news has had a couple of reports about internet safety this past month, this is a video from their website about some tips and warnings for kids using social networking websites.  

We have always tried to reiterate that students need to be cautious about what information they post about themselves on an online social networking site such as Facebook or MySpace.  The warning has always been that college admissions officers and potential employers can look up your profile online.  However, according to this article from MSNBC.com, employers are not simply looking at the profile.  Some human resources employees are contacting the friends listed on the potential employee's social networking page looking for information or recommendations.  On Facebook, for example, you can make your profile private from people who are not your friends.  However, anyone can still see a list of your friends and contact them if they want.  Some sites, including Facebook, will allow you to make a private list of friends that cannot be seen by outsiders, but you have to enable that option.  If you are a parent or guardian, please ask your child to see their social networking pages or talk to them about being careful with their personal information.