| Make way for the virtual message board or "the | | | | networking sites to gain so much ground is its |
| wall' as it is called, for it has now taken over the | | | | accessibility. The Internet is a free forum and |
| traditional gossip spots like high school corridors, | | | | portable devices like iPhone or netbook keeps you |
| locker rooms and cafeterias. Now, with just one | | | | connected even when you are in school, at the |
| click you can update yourself with who is going | | | | mall or at a coffee shop. |
| out with whom and who was recently dumped by | | | | These sites keeps one on their toes, thanks to |
| whom. | | | | the live feeds that one gets on their homepage. It |
| Information today travels at lightening speeds. | | | | is also the best way to get scoops on other |
| How? You may ask. The credit goes to Social | | | | people on their network. These site also promote |
| networking sites like Facebook, Twitter or | | | | individuality by allowing the users to customize and |
| Friendster to name a few. Teenagers and to an | | | | design their home page, upload profile pictures and |
| extent even adults treat these sites as a | | | | maintain photo albums, share comments on video, |
| platform to voice their opinions and express their | | | | play game like Mafia wars, Farmville etc. This |
| feelings. Social Networking Sites have pumped a | | | | virtual world takes you away from the mundane |
| new energy into one of the fundamental rights - | | | | activities associated with daily life and keeps you |
| "Free Speech". You don't require any fancy | | | | in sync with whats going on. |
| credentials for this, just sign up free of charge on | | | | Parents could use this as a tool to keep |
| these websites and keep a tab on your friend's | | | | themselves updated about the otherwise |
| relationship status. Many a times you might find | | | | prohibited world of their teenage kids. But on a |
| out about a change in your life by reading a | | | | deeper note, all is not good with this networking |
| comment posted by one of your friends. | | | | system. Reading too much into posts put up by |
| What is the rationale behind this public display of | | | | friends or being too nosy may lead to lot of |
| emotions? Well, the answer is simple. Teens are | | | | confusion ranging from false hope to anger, to |
| forever looking for validation from their peers. | | | | disappointment and rage. Teenagers in their vanity |
| They need to feel accepted and heard. Secondly, | | | | treat this public forum as their best friend and a |
| these sites make confrontation more comfy. You | | | | shoulder to cry on, often giving out information |
| don't like what one of your friends have posted | | | | that could endanger their privacy and above all |
| then negate them without having to deal with a | | | | their safety. Predators are waiting for one loose |
| gamut of emotions. | | | | move, is it wise then, to jeopardize not only your |
| But the most important reason for these | | | | but also your friend's security? |