Researchers say few teenagers appreciate the audience for images posted on blogs or social networks. They assume that posts are limited to a safe, closed network of "friends." But there's no such thing as privacy on the Internet. Nor do digital images fade away.
"There is a certain adolescent glee in being able to push the envelope of publishing something on the Internet that might shock your parents or other adults, but that your friends would think is great," said Amanda Lenhart, a researcher with the Pew Internet & American Life Project in Washington. "The problem is the failure to understand the persistence of images and material on the Internet."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday, April 26, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 32 words Type of Material: Correction
Miley Cyrus: An article in Friday's Business section about provocative photos of teen star Miley Cyrus said 16 Mouseketeers appeared in the original "Mickey Mouse Club" television series. The number is 24.
One former child star, Paul Petersen, one of Disney's original 16 Mousketeers who is best known for the role of Jeff on "The Donna Reed Show," saw something more worrisome in the Cyrus images.
"This is a dilemma for every corporation that makes a big bet on an adolescent girl," said Petersen, who describes Cyrus' sold-out "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" as a "calamitous break with normality."
"When you are drenched in that much adoration and audience love, things begin to change. You wonder who is it in her life that can say 'no,' " said Petersen, who started the child star support group A Minor Consideration. "I fear that since this path has been trodden so many times, that unless someone takes aggressive, active steps with her -- I'm talking serious intervention -- that we're going to watch yet another meltdown."
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dawn.chmielewski@latimes.com
