Post: You're The Person of the Year
You're The Person of the Year
This just in from Time magazine: You're the Person of the Year.
And so are we. Because on today's Internet, each of us is in control, creating our own content and making our own collaborations.
In Time's announcement, editors say the 2006 story is "about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. It's about the cosmic compendium of knowledge Wikipedia and the million-channel people's network YouTube and the online metropolis MySpace.
It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes."
We like this choice, because it reminds us of something that's easy to forget: the way we -- and especially our teens -- use the Internet today -- really can be wonderful.
Take a look around YouTube and MySpace or other community sites, and you'll see lots of inappropriate stuff, but you'll also see teens flexing their creativity: Writing poems, making movies, promoting their bands. And you'll see them supporting each other, offering virtual hugs -- and sometimes very sage advice.
Of course, Time's announcement also reminds us of how kids need our guidance. No doubt about it now: The Internet is where our kids live -- and where they are learning who they are and how they feel about life.
As parents, we need to understand the technology they are using, set good guidelines, and keep checking in with them -- both in the real world, and the virtual one.
For more on social networking, instant messaging, online gaming, and more, download our free guide, Keeping Your Kids Internet Safe and Smart.