Pure Minds Online | Issue 3 | December 2010 | Making Sense of the Internet

Issue 3 - December 2010

In this issue...

The MySpace/Facebook Mashup:
What It Means for Parents
Accountability as a Lifestyle (Part 1):
Purity in the Gray Areas
CT PIR: Understanding Internet Lingo
Internet Revolution:
How Rating the Web Changes Everything
Merry Christmas from Covenant Eyes!

MySpace/Facebook Mashup: What It Means for Parents

MySpace and Facebook now let users connect through either networking site

Facebook and MySpace now allow users to connect through both social networking sites with one login.

By Luke Gilkerson

Last month, the two social network giants MySpace and Facebook announced what they call a "mashup." This allows those with profiles on both networks to import their lists of "likes" and "interests" from Facebook to MySpace with one click of the mouse.

For parents of digitally connected teens-and most of them are-the new mashup is just one more way young people can become engulfed in the medium of social networks. The mashup is another landmark in the history of Internet communication, serving as a reminder to parents that children need the wise guidance of parents to help them balance online and offline life. Read more...

Did you know?

28% of teens said they had shared personal information about themselves online that they would not normally share in public.

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	Accountability as a Lifestyle (Part 1): Purity in the Gray Areas
		By Luke Gilkerson It was your typical Christian men's conference: the predictable but entertaining talks on godly masculinity, the vendor area selling the latest "man-up-to-Jesus" books, the seminars addressing everything from lust to having a healthy marriage. I was standing at the Covenant Eyes booth when I was approached by a young man who smiled at the sight of our table. "I love you guys," he began, "I used your accountability software for a year or so." "Why did you stop?" I asked. "Oh, well, I used to really struggle with pornography online, and your software really helped me. But I don't really struggle with that anymore." I both like and dislike hearing testimonies like this. On one hand, I love hearing how Internet accountability has changed someone's behavior for the better. On the other hand, I know the value of long-term Internet accountability, and I hate to see people give up on it when the perceived threat is over. Read more...

	CT PIR: Understanding Internet Lingo
		By Kari Glemaker, National Director of iCare 19/m/ca watz ur n/a/s/l? snd m ur p# we can pRt! g2g4n Cell phone texting is the main form of communication between teenagers and their friends. More than half of all teens send at least one text message a day and two thirds say they would rather text than call their friends. The typical teen sends 50 text messages a day, with older girls (ages 14-17 years old) averaging 100 or more per day. This form of quick communication has created its own terms and expressions referred to "Netlingo." The State Attorney General for Idaho has developed an Internet Lingo Dictionary (pdf) which provides parents, educators and families with an alphabetized list of netlingo acronyms and numerical codes. This lingo is used daily in texts, chatrooms, e-mail and social networking sites. Remember though, some tweens and teens may have their own lingo for use with their group of friends. Read more...

	Internet Revolution: How Rating the Web Changes Everything
		By Sam Black Movie ratings have existed since 1930, and game ratings since 1994. But no one has rated the Internet until now. The Covenant Eyes rating system, released in December, makes it easy for parents to know the age-appropriateness of websites. With a new website being launched every 2 seconds, parents need a tool that helps them keep up with ever-changing threats on the Internet. "Just as movie ratings are highly important to every movie viewer, ratings of websites will certainly become a household concept for the Internet," said Ron DeHaas, President of Covenant Eyes. Read more...

	Merry Christmas!
		Celebrate! At Covenant Eyes we have so much to be thankful for, and we know that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Every year, we receive letters and e-mail from so many families, and we consider it a blessing to serve. Please follow this link to our free e-book Parenting the Internet Generation, which you may share with anyone by providing that link. We believe it is a valuable resource for parents today. As you celebrate Christmas with us, may the Prince of Peace bring you renewed joy and a great hope! With warm regards, Ron DeHaas, Covenant Eyes President and Founder