The other day I dove head first into the Web 2.0 world. I set up my own Twitter account and joined my first social networks (Classroom 2.0 and VSTE). It was not long before I had my first request to “befriend” someone. I have to admit that it creeped me out a bit. I kept hearing my mother’s voice reminding me how I should never talk to strangers. Within minutes, though, I had found some familiar names and started sending my own “befriend me” messages.

The key here, though, was that I KNEW the folks I was “befriending” online. I was also careful to keep my personal information ambiguous and to not post any pictures of myself.

Our students are not always as cautious. The temptation is great to really open up and share in what appears to be a safe environment. I am not bad mouthing social networks. I think they are great. But I think it’s important to remind our students (and ourselves for that matter as we adults increasingly join the Web 2.0 world) that they need to be SAFE.

This video is offers a great lesson. It really hits home about how once your picture online, it does not ever really go away.

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