As moderators of content published by children and young people, we’re constantly reminded of their passion for all things new. They’re astonishingly adept at seeking out the latest apps and quick to test new technologies to the limit. As the adults around them lumber around Twitter and Instagram, they’ve been there, done that and moved on in their droves to Snapchat – as I write I’m acutely aware that since I started this paragraph, Snapchat could well be passé and already reached the eye-rolling stage of, ‘Really Mummy, nobody uses that anymore!’
Into this vibrant mix of the new and the customisable, the shiny and the free, comes Facebook’s Rooms: It’s attractive, sleek and extraordinarily easy to use. Rooms is a Facebook product which is reminiscent of chatrooms of old, where users could post messages, photos and videos under a pseudonym. There’s a hankering of late for the anonymity of the past and Facebook have been quick to utilise this by offering a service which allows its users to communicate without using their real identity.
But is it really anonymous? The rooms are moderated by the Room’s creator who has full control of the Room’s settings. The area may start as a private space but should the creator decide to make it public, the other participants have no control over it. There are also the usual concerns – and let’s face it – they’re the age old concerns that we have for any application; where is the content stored and how long will it remain there – even after deletion?
So why are we worried? Perhaps we shouldn’t be; as with any app, there are no guarantees of instant success, but we should, I think, keep an ear to the ground on how it progresses. The growing concern and awareness among children about their digital footprint is commendable – they’re savvier and wiser about their privacy than we give them credit for – and as long as they stick to the age old rules of the game, there should be minimal risk:
- Check the Room’s settings
- Think before you post
- Protect your reputation
- Don’t give out your personal details
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