I do want to take issue with one of your points–social networking profiles are not “globally accessible.” Aside from issues of filtering and blocking around the world, all the major networking sites offer privacy settings–which, as I mentioned in the post, teens are actually More likely to use than their older adult counterparts. Part of our job as librarians (and as adults in general) is to make sure teens know about these options and learn how to create an online presence that will help rather than hinder their future success.

I think Emily’s point above is also a great one. Sure, now you might find out that a babysitter has a nude photo on Facebook–but decades ago you might have found out that she posed nude for Playboy. (The question of whether this makes her an unsuitable babysitter is, I think, a different discussion.)

You are right, none of these adolescent risky behaviors are new, but the ability to publish these behaviors in an online format that is globally accessible and permanently archived does raise some new risks for teens. I have had a few patients who have applied for jobs and been turned down due to the content of their MySpace profiles. You mentioned that you felt the email sent in my research study was creepy, I can understand that might be the case for you. I might argue that finding out your child’s babysitter has a nude photo on her Facebook page is also a bit creepy, a colleague of mine had that experience. I think it is all a bit creepy because it is all new, and we are all in this together to try to figure out how to provide appropriate guidance and support to adolescents. Knowing that this topic is being considered by Youth Librarians makes me quite optimistic for the future.

Thanks again.
Megan