Thanks for the tips!

I am of an older generation but I hate that young adults, kids, even baby boomers are losing the ability to actually communicate with each other directly and in person since lack of communication or miscommunication is really at the core of many of our problems.

As for the founder of FaceBook, of course, he wants to lower the age because it is in his best interest to have more and more people on the site. I doubt that it has much to do with any socially redeeming notion. Let’s face it; he may be a genius and an innovator and a trillionarie but he seems to lack a good deal of social skills himself. But that is an other conversation.

Just allow kids to be kids. Get them outside and playing with their friends one-on-one because there isn’t anything really important for them to add to a FaceBook page. If you really think about it most posting on FaceBook even with adults aren’t very important. Do we really need to know what everyone did this hour; this day; this minutes. Gosh, I really don’t think we are all that interesting after all. So, what in the world does one 12 year old have to say to any other 12 year old that can’t wait until they see each other in school or on the playground?

I don’t disagree at all that you can’t control what a kid does once they leave the house. Nor am I trying to “dangerize” Facebook. What concerns is not necessarily that people allow their kids to use Facebook, but that the parents who don’t monitor their children or teach them safe practices for internet and social media. If you follow the “kids are going to do it anyway” approach, then you need to make sure the kids are educated about what they’re doing, which it sounds like you have done. I’ve just found that the internet and social media are often a blind spot with some parents who are otherwise very involved in their kids lives. These parents pay attention to the movies their kids watch, the friends they hang out with, etc, etc, but then give their kids iPhones and let them take in the internet with them in their bedroom and close the door.

Thanks for your comment.

To ensure good habits were being created and reinforced we allowed them to do limited social networking on the centrally located computers in our loft where we could walk by at any moment as well as requiring their passwords so that we could spot check.

You can’t control what your kids do once they leave the house. I prefer to give them ammunition and knowledge so that they can make good decisions when they get into these things while away from the house.

I appreciate that your article does look at both sides, and encourages parents to be proactive if they allow their kids to have social media accounts.

Check out http://freerangekids.wordpress.com there is a lot of logic there.

If a parent believes that their child doesn’t do something just because they said “no”, then they are in for some rough teen years!!

I don’t have children yet, but my plan – once I have them – is to use first names, but limit the stories and photos.

It is for this reason that I dubbed her Elf Princess and use that pseudonym online. There are lots of ways that identities can be stolen these days, and while I agree that I don’t think your words or my blog put her in any danger I am also not all knowing. Therefore it is better to be cautiously optimistic than to be foolishly unpractical.

Brand and I have always tried to let the EP know that rules and safety precautions are there to prevent ill from happening. And I think using a screen name is a normal safety precaution right up there with locking your car door or your house door. It’s not over the top, but it is [in this day and age] a normal safety choice.

Allison Duncan
The Nerd Connection

Thanks!

I still have qualms about this from time to time. And it also makes me censor myself – I have this cute video of my girls, clad only in diapers, running and shrieking in the sprinkler. No way am I posting that to YouTube, though.

I guess, like so many things in parenting, that this is something you have to define and redefine as your kids grow up.

Go to your Facebook profile by clicking on “Profile” in the upper-right corner.
Roll your mouse over the offending post and single-click the “X” you see to the right of the post.
You can choose from the Options menu:

Remove post
Block user/application
Report as Spam
Report Abuse

It sounds like you need to either report the offending comments as Span or Report Abuse.
If the postings and the problems continue to occur, contact Facebook by going to the “Help Center,” located in the top-right corner under Account.
Your final option if Facebook’s Help Center: shut down the account entirely, establish a new one, and start fresh.

In the future be wary of phishing links, continue to change your password (once to twice a month), and be wary of following people you do not know or recognize. We hope to have helped you out in this situation. Good luck.

The link to the complete list is http://www.privacyrights.org/biggest-privacy-risks-2011

P.S. Not crazy about “The Clearinghouse” Our friends call us PRC. :-)

Never been cyberbullied, but I have been bullied in meatspace – Bullying is bullying no matter where or how it is performed. It has been a very long time (20ish years) since I was bullied now, but thinking about those times still bring a lot of pain and anger and negative emotions best not given in to.

You cannot just not think about the bullying if you run. It’s there 3 AM on a Saturday night when you can’t sleep. It’s there on a bad day when nothing goes right. This is garbage that will follow you around until you realize that the bullies are just not worth the effort.

If you just drop offline to get away you are still the butt of the joke, you just don’t realize it. Better to stand your ground. Bullying needs to be stopped not ignored. We shouldn’t be chased off by some jerk who get’s their kicks by hurting others.

I understand your point of view from someone that doesn’t “live” in a virtual world. For someone who’s interactions online are a response to a an occasional blogpost, or perhaps looking at baby pictures of the grandkids/nephews/nieces, etc it should be about that easy. However, the victims (and the bullies) involved in cyberbullying have a different view of the internet.

These people are “digital natives”. They have never lived without access to the internet, or at least a computer, being close at hand. For them, and even for some of us “digital immigrants” our online communities are more real to us than our physical ones.

Beyond that, simply telling a child to “ignore” what is being said about them at school has never worked. Escalate that by allowing the bully to use the available technology to torment you with your own words and actions. If you can ignore that, you’re a better man than I am.

Cyberbullies, I believe, are a more real danger these days than the traditional playground tough, because it allows for a certain amount of anonymity. People are always more cruel when they don’t have to face their victim. Add on to that the folks that feel innocent because they are disconnected from the act. i.e. the folks that simply laugh at a silly video, not realizing the pain and suffering the victim is being subjected to.

Jack, I hope you, or anyone you ever love, is the victim of a cyberbully. However, if you are, I hope those that could do something to make it quit or ease your pain, don’t simply turn off their computers.

So yeah I agree with everything you say.

You will also want you to turn off the data plan on your smartphone, and have your friends turn off their computers and disable their data networks as well so the bullying doesn’t go viral. You may also want to take the Internet, for that matter, offline. As it was with “The Star Wars Kid” it was the Internet and not a local network that made his harassment go viral.

“Pretending it will go away” is an option, but you may want to consider a larger picture.

With a digital copy, you can encrypt it and upload to one of the many cloud storage services (Mobile Me, Dropbox, gmail, the list goes on).

That way, if you loose the physical copy, you can download it pretty much where ever you are. Assuming you have internet access (which your embassy SHOULD have).

May save a long distance call at a bad time for your friend/family member.

But the ENCRYPT it bit is important.

Philip

Not great news if you’re depending on that refund to pay an important bill or expense. And it also means that the thief has her Social Security number! Keep your guard up.

Thanks.

I have three children. An 11 year old son, a 3 year old son, and a baby girl that is not yet 2 weeks old.

None of them have ever been identified by name online. I never intend to do so. My son’s computer, while in his room, is only allowed to access websites that I’ve preapproved. (If you think this is an inconvenience for the parent, you are right, however, he’s my son!)

Parents reaching out through social media to other parents is a wonderful thing, but my children’s safety is even more important to me.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by IDGuardian: From IDGuardian: Why Identity Protection for Kids Matters http://www.idguardian.com/identity-protection-for-kids/...

I could address the security concerns of giving out your cell phone number to the theater staff, but you’ve addressed that fairly well in your post.

In terms of how they could secure data for the movie-goers, they have a few options.

My first two ideas presume that there is some sort of system that needs to be set up at the theater location to make this work. First, they could begin the film allowing the movie-goers to send a text message to defined number that would randomly select one of the movie-goers as the contact for the film’s protagonist. This would eliminate the need for a person to collect phone numbers and would add a layer of security to the process. This also assumes that the filmmakers or hardware owners aren’t going to take that data and use it for some other purposes. In looking at this option we can also look at it in terms of what is in it for the ‘creators’ and the ‘viewers’. I’ll use those simpler terms from here so as not to presume too much about who could be using the data collected.

For the creators, they are able to get an idea of how many people are opting in to the experience and a count of how many opt out. They can use the newly collected number to advertise for themselves or a third-party. They could survey viewers to get opinions on the film, demographics about the audience, etc. If they are E-Vil, they could also take the numbers and sell them to shady Mr. McTrenchcoat and claim that what they did was built into a poorly worded third-party information sharing agreement.

For the viewers, they are able to participate actively in the experience. They also can feel like they have their voices heard if they continue on after the film and fill out surveys. They might benefit from advertising from the creators or one of their third-party vendors.

All of this said, the second option for the creators would be to send along a secondary device or devices to be handed out to select viewers so that they might participate from that device. In my mind, it would basically be a limited function ‘phone’ that worked only with the gear for that film. This gives viewers the experience that the creators were going for without compromising security for the viewer. The benefits are similar to those outlined above, but on a much more limited scale. Creators could require the selected audience member to take part in a brief survey (perhaps using the device) to collect some demographic data before the device is ‘activated’ for the viewing. They could advertise during this process or even display ads on the device itself. A simple theft deterrent device could be installed in it to keep people from walking off with them, or perhaps they could be purchased by the viewers for an extra fee as they walk in as part of the “chance” to participate in the experience. The details of that could be worked out and the options are numerous and beyond the scope of my response. It would create a different level of involvement by the theater staff than the cell phone option did, but it would give the viewer more of a sense of security after they left the theater.

This goes beyond the scope of security, but I really find myself asking… would I want to watch the film if I weren’t the participant? I keep coming back to No. The fact is that there are just too many variables involved when you have one person deciding the fate of our movie-going experience. (See the latter works of George Lucas as a representative example.) All it takes is someone who has been to it before to get the reigns to the movie and who has no interest in enjoyment beyond being a jerk to ruin the film for the audience. Granted, one would presume the creators were talented enough to keep that from happening. Also, I would be leery of being the person who got the call. What if Chester McStabbington two rows back doesn’t like the way I ran the movie and decides he’s going to show off for his girlfriend by using me as a pincushion? This is a completely different kind of security concern.

No, I personally think if the creators want to really make a market for this kind of experience; it might better be served to a more intimate setting. This kind of thing has been done using DVD and a remote before, but nothing says it can’t be done using your smart phone and your networked Blu Ray player. All the information transmitted happens inside your own network and unless you opt in to transmitting your story path outside of your network, it all stays nice and secure (presuming you have a secure network at home.)

I’m sure I’ve missed or forgot a point or two I was going to make along the way, so don’t be surprised if I make an amendment or an addendum to this response.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by IDGuardian: From IDGuardian: When the “Last Call” Could Be The First Mistake http://www.idguardian.com/last-call-first-mistake/...

However, as co-author of “Personal Effects: Dark Art” (a transmedia experience you cite in your essay), I must point out that at no time are participants prompted to provide their phone numbers. Further, the calls players make to the experience’s working numbers (such as the number on the cover of the book) are not logged.

I would appreciate an edit in your essay regarding Personal Effects, in the interest of providing accurate information to your readership.

Also, just because I am out and about doesn’t mean that my family is. Go ahead… go to my house when I am out with my friends… my dogs, my wife and the police will LOVE to have a chat with you… well maybe not so much my wife.

There are better ways to rob people. Waiting for the right tweet and finding someone that way is awfully inefficient. It’s so much easier to comb the obituaries and look for entries that list the time, date and location of the services… not to mention probably enough personal information about the deceased to suss out how much might be available for pick up at their home.”

Great post. Thanks!

I agree that scammers are getting more and more clever while still using the same old tricks. I’m beginning to think the easiest cybercrimes to perpetrate is types of social engineering. While most of us would never hand over our identity or bank records to someone in person, many people seem to line up to give them to a web interface.

How much protection does a middleman such as PayPal provide?

Thanks for another great podcast and the great advice.

(loved the bell)

Very well discussed issue. I also remember the days when we left the house unlocked and my parents still have no need to lock their car doors (small community) but of course that was very insecure. I guess we could build houses without doors, but that would be rather inconvenient.

Maybe there would be a market in trained attack house cats.

Excellent episode.

Again, thanks for the well written and timely information.

You are absolutely correct in your assertion that many organizations are gathering information in order to share/sell to with others.

I routinely identify myself as Cyrano De Bergerac or Richard Francis Burton on these mandatory information forms. Occasionally, I’ll also share my legitimate physical address in order to see what happens. Without fail, mail begins arriving addressed to “Dear Cyrano” within a short time span. (Somewhere I envision some poor postal employee shaking ROTFL)

In the first paragraph, you mention schools gathering more data than is necessary. This should be a bit disconcerting to anyone with kids in the public school system. Schools are notorious for being targeted for theft. Computers are usually in the open and an easy target. Unfortunately, the legally protected information usually isn’t behind much more than an easily circumvented startup password.

As always, I greatly enjoyed your article.

What is a true eye opener is that it is the individuals at the bottom of the scams that end up paying the price.

Truly enjoy the work you’re doing…

I have an iPhone and am constantly browsing for new apps. Many of the apps simply link to content that is readily available on free sites on the net, but as you stated, it is much different to be easily able to access it while mobile.

However, I also am VERY careful about apps that are providing information about me while simultaneously gathering information about others.

Social Networking apps that let others see me on a map are easy for me to say “no way” to. While I love the integration of the “Find my iPhone” into the mobileme functionality, even that is a possible invasion. One friend I know of had their ex tracking their movements using this functionality.

Each of these decisions should be weighed carefully before diving in.

Thanks again for these very well thought out, well written articles.

Oh, yeah, please ignore the Silver SVU with TX plates as well.

If someone sends you a link and you really want to see it, contact them directly before opening… (did you just send me this?)… or if it’s a shortened URL, ping them back and ask for the whole thing.

As some have observed, it’s impossible to use these amazing poweful new tools without incurring some level of increased exposure.. the key is to maintain a critical eye toward anything that could ever comprise an attack.. really just as it’s been for a long time with e-mail/attachments.

Thanks for all the feedback, keep it coming! :)

What I think people keep forgetting that the human element is the most dynamic and exciting part of social media. People cheer, people complain, people share, and people communicate. We’ve done the same things since camp fires and cave paintings came into being. Seriously, what is the difference between a cave painting and a Facebook wall?

I’ve heard many stories like the earlier one asking an employer for a recommendation, they both sadden and anger me. I am sad because the people hurt (and they are hurt) are just doing what people have always done, just in a new medium, and rhey are being penalized because they dare to be human. I am angered because the people applying the hurt appear to have forgotten those simple, basic lessons from Kindergarten.

Maybe they need to go back for a refresher?

It is too bad that this is the case, but being so, we must remember not only to try to be vigilant ourselves, but also to teach our children about it.

Alternatively, maybe they should teach us.

My general rule for links is “don’t click them.” I try to use Twitter clients/sites that expand out shortened links so I can see the original.

Our company’s Security group recently sent around some social site guidelines too, which were the standard “be aware of what you click on” type warnings.

I’m not sure that there’s an easy answer, just education and caution. At least for now ..

Do what you can to protect yourself, don’t be stupid with your credentials and pay attention to your links. As long as you pay attention to what you’re doing you’ll be fine nine times out of ten.

This can be especially dangerous because of the rise of “personal information” verification questions. Sure, msot people probably know to be careful with their mother’s maiden name and place of birth (though both are things I know I’ve mentioned in casual offline conversation). But think about the kinds of other things that are asked: favorite sports team, favorite book, street you grew up on, childhood pet’s name… I’ve seen all these and more posted on people’s Facebook and MySpace profiles.

Knowledge itself is power, as they say, so just be careful with how much of it you broadcast out into the ether.

Witness car travel: far more deaths than airplane travel but far fewer people have car phobias than plane phobias, and there are seldom calls for people to abandon their cars (okay, maybe to carpool but you get my meaning).

Just as the author of this article finished examining security concerns and joked it was time for his social media fix, all society is caught up in fears of identity scams, computer intrusion and taking down their friends with them when they make a mistake.

And it happens.

And then folks become literate in the new skillset. You learn the rules of the road (or this new social lane of the information highway) and even as you feel sorry for the guy you stopped at the side of the road, steam coming out from the hood of his PC, you keep moving!

Although you turn to sites like this one every now and then, to make sure your social-net smarts are tuned.

Great article, thanks for helping us fellow social networkers aware of the ‘rules of the road’ before we’re the ones stuck on the shoulder!

Cheers,
Phil Rossi

http://www.philrossi.net

It’s a concern, to be sure, but what is the solution beyond the ordinary sorts of things that we do with everything else online? Careful with certain details, changing passwords regularly, etc.?

Maybe we need those authenticators with the automatic cycling passwords?

While living in (City A), I was employed for approximately two years with (Company B). It was a relatively simplistic job, and gave me opportunities (though I shouldn’t have taken them) to Tweet about boredom or random frustrations with my boss and my job from time to time. I enjoyed my job, and I looked up to my boss.
A year after I moved to (City B) and attempted to land permanent employment with (Company C), I contacted my boss and requested a letter of recommendation. He refused, telling me that a week after I left the company he received information from an anonymous source, revealing my complaints that I had tweeted, and (I believe) were embellished to make it seem that I despised my job and hated my boss.
I was ultimately “bitten in the rear” for letting my frustrations vent in what I thought was a constructive matter.
Despite being protected, I am now much more careful about what and who I tweet about.
~Jett

I recently got a spam message over my Skype. It was a warning from another ‘user’ telling me that my windows machine potentially had viruses and malware on it and that I should click their link to download their computer scannning software that detected it remotley through skype.

One small problem…I was on a Mac.

Fail.

I told the spam bot what it could go do with itself and then promptly blocked it.

In any event, the biggest weapon in this fight is not bigger and badder AV software, but just a bit of common sense. If you get a tweet from a random user soliciting you to ‘visit my site!” The first place I go, is the the user’s profile on Twitter. Take a look at their feed. 99% of the time, that tells me exactly what I need to know before I click on their bit.ly redirect. It won’t catch everything, but it’ll sure cut down on the number of Nigerian princes that have your personal information.