article highlights
Formspring is a social media tool that allows for anonymous interactions. Teens use it to:
- attract attention to themselves
- hear what people are saying behind their backs
- involve themselves with others
Formspring can work like a 360 feedback review. Those who cannot handle possible mean-spirited comments shouldn't use Formspring.
related links & blogs
FormSpring.com
What to do about Formspring.me | Huffington Post
Commonsense Media
Ask a Teenager
By Riley and Friends, Ages 14 to 16
What's the attraction to FormSpring.me? It seems to bring out the worst in some people.
For those of you just hearing about Formspring for the first time, it is a site that allows people to join and ask anonymous questions of both friends and strangers. It seems to be popular with teenagers.
Here's what Riley had to say:
I think for most, it's just a way to attract attention to themselves. But, for others, it's a way to see what's being said about you behind your back. Since most people wouldn't ask those questions to your face, formspring is a way for them to get into other people's business anonymously.
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And, here's the reply back: Formspring Works Like an Informal 360-Review?? Wow, I hadn't really considered there could be a positive impact from this site. I was just worried about some of the harsh messages I saw on my daughter's Formspring page. I wanted to protect her. When you mention using it as a way to hear what's being said behind your back, it makes me think about the 360-degree feedback reviews some businesses use when assessing their leaders. Businesses use these to improve performance and help people get a view into their blind spots. It looks like businesses can even leverage social media for this type of anonymous feedback, just like some of you are doing with Formspring. Funny, to think that teenagers are making use of something businesses spend a lot of time and money developing. Still, I'm a mom and I worry. How do you handle it if the criticism is mean-spirited? What about the stories you hear about in the news about kids getting depressed or worse about this kind of stuff? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, A Worried Mom |
Another word from Riley:
We don't really "handle" anything... most aren't looking to change themselves from it.. it's just curiosity and entertainment. If something is mean spirited, people usually answer back with something meaner or an I'm rubber ur glue kind of thing.
I think if u can't handle others opinions then it's stupid to have a formspring.. and if u do ur asking for it.
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