Personal Web Sites

What is a Personal Web Site?

A Web site is simply a collection of files on a Web server. A Web server is a computer used for the purpose of housing web sites and making them available to any requesting computer. The Web server waits for a Web page request from another computer. When a file is requested it is sent to the requesting computer. The browser (software on the requesting computer, such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Netscape's Navigator, Mozzila's Firefox, or Opera) assembles the page and displays it on the monitor or screen.

Personal Web sites are sites created by individuals to express their interests or give information about themselves. Web sites are a visual medium where images are particularly effective communications tools. Many young people have created personal Web sites, usually to share with friends rather than parents. Many Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) provide a certain amount of web space to their customers. Check with your ISP to see if this is a service they provide. Click here for an image of a personal Web site.

The information for building a simple Web site is readily available on the Internet. Hosting sites, which provide Web server space free or for a fee, may also have automated templates that create a site for you.

Dangers

Just because your child has a Web site to share personal information with his or her friends does not mean that the friends are the only ones who can see this information. Information that should not be on the Web site:

• Name
• Telephone number
• Street address
• E-mail address
• Passwords
• School
• Distinguishing family information
• Where a parent is employed
• Photos containing identifying information

Another danger is copyright infringement. It is very easy to post material (information, photos, games, etc.) that is copyrighted and the owner of the material can pursue legal action against the site owner.

Personal Web sites can be used as opinion platforms; however, these can go astray if the topics are hate related or if the language is offensive. Because the technology provides a non-human interface, you see only the monitor and touch only the keyboard, it is easy to underestimate the power of the thoughts and feelings being shared with countless others on the other end of the wire. Saying something that is untrue or something that damages a reputation unfairly can lead to charges of libel.

Resources:

The GetNetWise site on personal Web sites http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/technology/ownsites