Ordinarily I write on the ways social media can be used to spread your message, market your service, products, or books.

But I have run across a truly great piece by Joellyn (Joey) Sargent, president of BrandSprout Social Media. While she makes social media her business, a situation recently impelled her to write this open letter to teens and tweens. Hopefully, parents will read it too:

“You are growing up in a world where privacy is an old-fashioned concept. Almost everything you do is recorded, watched or monitored somehow,” she writes. “We have cameras on our computers and cell phones, in stores, parks and on the highway. We check in on Facebook and Foursquare and whatever other check-in app you choose. Your phone goes everywhere you go, and the GPS on you phone always knows where you are…”

Please visit Open Letter to Teens on Social Media for the rest of the letter.