Internet "guilds" for teenagers

[debbidoobie]

My daughter has also been sucked into the world of Internet guilds. These allow kids to create their own forums which are usually unsupervised and are not value-based. The benefit is that kids can form a sort-of online book club, in which they discuss their favorite book with a passion. Harry Potter has much to do with developing this fervor amongst kids, as well as fantasy literature.

However, the kids risk becoming dependent on these faceless communications to discuss their personal problems and offer one another advice. Hence, they eventually get advice from people they do not know and who probably do not share their values, and get further pulled away from their family’s value system. All the while, parents don’t realize what is going on psychologically with their teen.

I am asking for suggestions of “radical” or “cool” internet guilds for Christians, hopefully Catholics, where kids discuss their favorite passions (such as the Lemony Snicketts books) in a more safe environment and with others who share similar values. I have given my daughter previously sites such as Lifeteen, Youth Apostles online youthapostles.com/, and NextWave Faithful nextwavefaithful.com/. She thinks these people are all “preppy” and won’t understand her.

As part of my daughter’s reconciliation, I plan to have her sign up with the Lifeteen teentalk online and start asking their community for value-safe guilds on Lemony Snicketts. However, I would also appreciate your suggestions too. God bless !

 

[JMJ_Pinoy]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Harry Potter, Lemony Snickett, or other fantasy literature forums, as long as fantasy literature is the topic being discussed. But I do agree that such forums are not the place where people should be discussing personal problems.

Maybe your daughter will like one of the following forums:

Phat Mass:
[www.phatmass.com](http://www.phatmass.com)

The monthly TEENS thread, here on Catholic Answers. The September thread is at: http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=72667

YOU! Magazine:
http://www.youmagazine.com/

The Flyfree Forums:
http://www.flyfreeministries.org/forum/

Catholic Sound:
http://www.catholicsound.com/

• JMJ_Pinoy

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I know I’m “old” (over 40) but I like PhatMass.

 

[debbidoobie]

JMJ_Pinoy:

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Harry Potter, Lemony Snickett, or other fantasy literature forums, as long as fantasy literature is the topic being discussed. But I do agree that such forums are not the place where people should be discussing personal problems.

Maybe your daughter will like one of the following forums:

Phat Mass:
[www.phatmass.com](http://www.phatmass.com)

The monthly TEENS thread, here on Catholic Answers. The September thread is at: http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=72667

YOU! Magazine:
http://www.youmagazine.com/

The Flyfree Forums:
http://www.flyfreeministries.org/forum/

Catholic Sound:
http://www.catholicsound.com/

• JMJ_Pinoy

Thanks so much! BTW, I think the Lemony Snickets series is extremely well written, although Narnia and Rings still hold fond memories too :>)