For Your Journal: Writing Prompt

Do you keep a journal – or wish you could get one started? Literary Mama wants to help.

Three times a month, I’ll post a writing prompt. Open a notebook and write for 10 minutes. Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation – just write. Then let the writing simmer and your mind wander for awhile.

And who knows? Maybe you’ll discover a character for your next short story or a theme for a narrative essay. Or maybe you’ll use the idea to create a special holiday card or photo album for someone in your family. However you decide to use your journal entry, I know you’ll enjoy re-reading it months–and years–down the road.

Also: Every three months, I’ll accept submissions and choose a few pieces to post for LM readers to enjoy.
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The 2011 Consumer Reports State of the Net survey found that more than one-third of the minors who actively use Facebook are under age 13 and shouldn’t be using the site. (Facebook’s policies require all users to be at least 13 years of age.) Of those under age 10, 18 percent were not “friends” with their parents and even fewer had spoken with their parents about online behavior and threats.

But the report also noted that social network sites manipulate privacy policies and settings so they can capture more personal information and, that because of federal electronic privacy laws, cannot close a child’s account just because a parent requests it.

Some say the government should tighten age verification procedures for websites; others say parents should be more vigilant.

What do you think?

Journal Entry: What rules should be established regarding children and social networking sites? Should the rules by driven by the family or the government? Write an opinion piece, citing a personal example to support your position.