I was recently chatting with a friend (who happens to be my mother) and we were discussing parenting in the age of Facebook.  Some parents are understandably cautious to let their kids engage in online activities, social networking site, etc. Beyond the security risks, there are many concerns over privacy. No one wants their kids to be compromised 30 years from now because they posted some less-than-wonderful photos of themselves.

The reality, however, is even grimmer. With the ubiquity of camera-phones and widespread internet access, it is highly likely that someone somewhere will post a picture of you—whether you knew of it, approved of it or participated in it.

Wall Street Journal predicted today that this is only going to get worse:

As social-networking sites become a daily diary and blogging grows more popular, some people are likely to feel their privacy compromised by their own friends, who are constantly publishing casual information about them without their permission. Mr. Bankston calls the phenomenon “Little Brother surveillance.”

Obviously, just avoiding the social networking scene isn’t going to protect your reputation down the road. This state of affairs calls for a much more proactive level of involvement.

Over the years, my parents and I have talked quite a bit about this, and I’ve developed my own personal philosophy. First, instead of minimizing my internet presence, I’ve opted to maximize it—to “flood the market with genuines,” as it were. If you Google me, you will see how this has worked. You can track my books, look at my resume, read daily updates on my life, look at my pictures, see my friends, even look at my internet bookmarks.

The second aspect of my strategy is one everyone should adopt: To live a life that is “Facebook-proof.” As a Christian, my life is a testimony, and my actions speak louder than words. By avoiding compromising situations and by realizing that anything I say or do, anywhere, will be public, I can help maintain a healthy reputation online and offline.

Along with this comes a responsibility: Those of us putting stuff out for the whole world to see must be responsible and watch out for those who don’t. I am afraid my record isn’t the greatest here. We must be careful when sharing photos and videos to not share something embarrassing to someone without their consent.

What is your take on privacy in the Facebook age?

YouTube - The Machine is Us/ing Us (Final Version)

This fascinating video unpacks what Web2.0 is and why it matters. Brilliant, must-see video.

GodTube - Psalm 23

I’m not much for sappy emails, but this video is pretty cute.

“Christ, of all my hopes the ground, Christ, the spring of all my joy,
still in you may I be found,
still for you my pow’rs employ.

“Let your love my heart inflame;
Keep your fear before my sight,
Be your praise my highest aim,
Be your smile my chief delight.

“Thus, O thus, an entrance give,
to the land of cloudless sky;
having known it ‘Christ to live,’
let me know it ‘gain to die.’”

-Ralph Wardlaw

Summer Reading: Darrin Brooker has an awesome approach to using your reading time wisely.

Funny:  John Piper’s sense of humor.

God’s View: Anna identifies the cure for when you feel bad about yourself.

Promises: God’s encouragement for me. His word is so timely!

Generational Vision: Doug Phillips outlines his vision for the next hundred years.

Chimeras (Human-Mice blends): On the surface, this seems really scary. But, perhaps it will be beneficial in the future.  What do you think?

Modern Spellbooks:David Seah takes a humorous, unique perspective on how to learn difficult topics.

How to Forgive: Tim Challies summarizes an excellent approach to forgiving others and seeking forgiveness.

What a Crazy State: A mob of Texans beats a man to death.

What a Joke: Texas A&M’s student newspaper points out the sad state of our modern news system–and why Jon Stewart is so popular.

Disarming Men: Touchstone Archives explains why the Church’s attitudes towards manliness contribute to predators like Scott Peterson.

Hippies for Jesus: FirstThings analyzes the effect of the “Jesus People” on the church of today.

Was Paul Jealous?: The Sacred Sandwich takes a look at recent evidence that Demas wasn’t so bad after all.

Life Hacks: Lifehacker explains the art of the doable to-do list.

Soli Deo Gloria: “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17)

Business Tech: New York Magazine published an article speculating on Steve Job’s legacy and on the possibility of a Google/Apple merger. Warning: the linked to page is good; the rest of the article has bad language and is not really necessary to read.

Humor: “The irony of life is that few people make it out alive.” - via my roommate.

The Invisible Bookshelf: Lifehacker linked to this Instructable on levitating your books. Very cool.

Chinese Gold Farming: NYTimes writes on the rise of a new economy—and how the Chinese have industrialized it.

Raising Men: Over the weekend, WSJ published an excellent editorial by Tony Woodlief on fathering boys.

The Curse of Teenage-ism: Psychology Today interviews Robert Epstein on why our culture’s view of adolescents is permanently harming them.

A Father’s Tears: Mark Dever describes John Paton’s departure for the mission field.

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