As personal websites (blogs) become a phenomenon among teenagers, the risk of them being exploited by strangers posting inappropriate or vulgar content is unavoidable.
According to a survey by David Huffaker, a research expert at Northwestern University, young bloggers are particularly vulnerable to harassment, stalking, and bullying, with 70% revealing their identities, and 61% providing additional personal information such as email addresses, home or school addresses, and city… or links to their personal homepages.
Huffaker notes that more than half of online journals contain links to other bloggers’ addresses through a “Friends list,” and 70% of blogs include a “Comment” section for reader feedback. This is also where malicious individuals lurk, taking advantage of these platforms to propagate inappropriate thoughts and pornographic materials.
However, Huffaker emphasizes that personal websites also play a positive role in developing children’s communication skills, storytelling, and information sharing. “Blogs are no longer just private diaries; they have become a medium for children to engage with the online community, express feelings, share experiences, and build social relationships,” Huffaker observes.
Nearly 50% of blogs feature posts about love interests or stories like “I just saw a handsome guy and was mesmerized at first sight.” Additionally, the majority of bloggers also discuss grades, homework, or MP3 music, song lyrics, and performances…
