I started this blog to speak my mind. Some people from my facebook have already read this rant but I feel its worth mentioning here as well.
It has come to my attention that there are two posts circulating concerning everyone changing their profile pictures to 80's cartoon characters.
First post states
"Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (December 6), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but a stash of memories. This is for eliminating violence against children."
Second post states
"Did you know that changing your profile to a cartoon is a scam by pedophile's to entice children, its on tonight's news, tell all you know please! The group asking everyone to change their profile to their favorite cartoon characters is actually a group of pedophiles. ...kids will accept their friend requests faster if... they see a cartoon picture it has nothing to do with supporting child violence"
Wow what a contradiction of statements! I'm not writing this because I know the answer as to who started this viral trend. Honestly I don't care who started it! What I do care about on the other hand is that if kids are adding these stangers so easily where are the parents? I know I have several teenagers on my friends list so if this is their parent reading this message through their childs facebook, I'm very happy to say good job pat yourself on the back! I have three children of my own and I am proud to say yes I read their emails, yes I watch my child remotely while they are on the computer, and yes I have no problems saying "I'm your mom and this is what I need to do to keep you safe."
Now you may ask yourself why I care so much that parents take responsibuility in their childs computer useage. Its because I like most parents trust my kids but know things happen, and I found this out first hand. Even though my kids know that I watch them, I came across a 26 yr old man who was messaging my daughter through facebook discussing alot of perverse things (not that she was totaly innocent herself in these messages) So I contacted this 26 yr old and advised him to stop contacting my child (I almost advised him in person by going to Gorgia) and he really saw nothing wrong with what he was discussing with my daughter and begged me to continue to let him speak with her. Needless to say he is blocked from her in many ways.
So you see I was watching my child and this person slipped through the cracks, pedifiles have their ways but I'm here to let parents know that there are ways to protect your children. You may ask "How and when do I have the time to read my childs emails or go throgh their facebook?" Well then I must ask u some questions. Did you have time to drink that cup of coffee this morning? Did you have time to talk to your friend on the phone today? Did you have time to watch your favorite show today? If the answer to any of these questions was yes then yes you do have the time. You can monitor your kids during these and many other daily activities and there are also programs that filter specific words and websites which could potentually be a danger to your child.
Here is a link of programs that may help
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-free-parental-control-software-that-will-set-your-mind-at-ease-n/
So now that I'm done those who stayed with me through my whole rant I hope you found it usefull. If so please repost this so other parents may read, I dont care if you copy and paste and people dont know I wrote this I just want the message out if it takes 2 conflicting posts for people to listen then so be it.
WATCH YOUR KIDS!!!!!!!
It has come to my attention that there are two posts circulating concerning everyone changing their profile pictures to 80's cartoon characters.
First post states
"Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (December 6), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but a stash of memories. This is for eliminating violence against children."
Second post states
"Did you know that changing your profile to a cartoon is a scam by pedophile's to entice children, its on tonight's news, tell all you know please! The group asking everyone to change their profile to their favorite cartoon characters is actually a group of pedophiles. ...kids will accept their friend requests faster if... they see a cartoon picture it has nothing to do with supporting child violence"
Wow what a contradiction of statements! I'm not writing this because I know the answer as to who started this viral trend. Honestly I don't care who started it! What I do care about on the other hand is that if kids are adding these stangers so easily where are the parents? I know I have several teenagers on my friends list so if this is their parent reading this message through their childs facebook, I'm very happy to say good job pat yourself on the back! I have three children of my own and I am proud to say yes I read their emails, yes I watch my child remotely while they are on the computer, and yes I have no problems saying "I'm your mom and this is what I need to do to keep you safe."
Now you may ask yourself why I care so much that parents take responsibuility in their childs computer useage. Its because I like most parents trust my kids but know things happen, and I found this out first hand. Even though my kids know that I watch them, I came across a 26 yr old man who was messaging my daughter through facebook discussing alot of perverse things (not that she was totaly innocent herself in these messages) So I contacted this 26 yr old and advised him to stop contacting my child (I almost advised him in person by going to Gorgia) and he really saw nothing wrong with what he was discussing with my daughter and begged me to continue to let him speak with her. Needless to say he is blocked from her in many ways.
So you see I was watching my child and this person slipped through the cracks, pedifiles have their ways but I'm here to let parents know that there are ways to protect your children. You may ask "How and when do I have the time to read my childs emails or go throgh their facebook?" Well then I must ask u some questions. Did you have time to drink that cup of coffee this morning? Did you have time to talk to your friend on the phone today? Did you have time to watch your favorite show today? If the answer to any of these questions was yes then yes you do have the time. You can monitor your kids during these and many other daily activities and there are also programs that filter specific words and websites which could potentually be a danger to your child.
Here is a link of programs that may help
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-free-parental-control-software-that-will-set-your-mind-at-ease-n/
So now that I'm done those who stayed with me through my whole rant I hope you found it usefull. If so please repost this so other parents may read, I dont care if you copy and paste and people dont know I wrote this I just want the message out if it takes 2 conflicting posts for people to listen then so be it.
WATCH YOUR KIDS!!!!!!!
