When it comes to Internet safety, the basic advice is pretty much the same even though the technology keeps changing. Avoid giving out too much personal information in public places, be very careful before getting together with people you meet online and never say anything on the Internet that you wouldn’t want your grandmother, employer or your current or future love interest to see. That advice has long applied to e-mail, chat and social networking and now it can be applied to video sharing sites as well. Let me start out by saying that I’m a big fan of video uploading sites. I’ve seen some incredibly creative videos from people of all ages, including children. I think it’s terrific that many kids today are video-literate – able to communicate in a medium once reserved for highly trained professionals with expensive equipment. It’s also a way young and old can have an effect on their world. Videos posted on public sites have already had an effect on elections and public opinion. They’re good for our democracy.
Still, some common-sense rules of conduct are needed. Aside from the obvious – avoid pornography, hate speech and spewing out all sorts of personal information – there are more subtle ways to get in trouble.
Privacy is a key issue. Be aware of what’s in the scene that you’re recording. Posters on your wall, photos on a shelf, school or team T-shirts people are wearing, address signs in front of a house or car license plate numbers can revealyour identity.
Be especially conscious of videos depicting children, and never take video of other people’s children without permission. Be aware of what you and others are saying on the sound track and be respectful of the privacy rights of others who might be in your video. If you are taping in a public place, be sure to ask permission before including bystanders in the video. As with anything you post on the net, think about the implications of what you are doing, how you’re dressed and what you are saying. Would you feel comfortable showing this video to your boss or a potential employer, a relative or your future mother- or father-in-law? Be aware that anything you post on the Internet should be considered permanent. Even if you later delete it, there is a chance that it’s been copied, forwarded or reposted.
And don’t think someone needs a camcorder to record video. Most cell phones and still cameras are also now video recorders. Be aware that when someone brings out a cell phone, they could be using it as a camera or camcorder. That’s why some health clubs ban them from use in locker rooms. I’m not saying that we need to be paranoid about anything that has a lens in it, but we do need to be aware that cameras are all around us and we need to use those devices responsibly.
Be a good citizen. It’s your right to express your point of view and even make fun of public officials or policies, but don’t be mean or nasty, especially when it comes to people who aren’t in the public eye. You can be held legally responsible if you slander or defame someone.
Kids should be warned to avoid video bullying. Creating a video that makes fun of or ridicules another person can be extremely hurtful. This and other forms of cyber bullying are a growing problem on the Internet that affects many children and teens.
Parents should also be aware of what their kids are viewing on video sharing sites. Even though most of the major sites prohibit pornography and gratuitous violence, there are videos not suitable for younger children and there are sites that permit material that may be inappropriate for children or teens.
All reputable video sharing sites prohibit the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. That of course means you can’t rip-off segments from TV shows or movies, but it can have broader implications such as the use of musical sound tracks in videos. Last month the Electronic Frontier Foundation sued Universal Music Publishing Group because the company successfully demanded that YouTube remove a short video that a mother posted of her son dancing to a Prince song. That’s a bit extreme – hence the EFF’s lawsuit – but it does illustrate the need at least to be aware of ways you can get on the wrong side of the copyright police.