With the advent of technology, social media is playing a huge role in the way people connect and communicate with one another. Social media is also extremely accessible and difficult to monitor 24/7. The internet can be an awesome creative outlet for your child if used safely. If not, however, children may experience the adverse effects of the cyber world. How can you help your child use the internet safely and avoid dangerous situations? We’ve compiled a list below!
•Explain that posts are FOREVER! What they post today can be accessed years from now.
•Instruct them not to post any information that gives away their personal identity. This includes but isn’t limited to: school name, phone number, address, hometown, etc.
•Remind them that passwords are private and should only be shared with their parent. Passwords are created to keep our information safe as well as protect us from people posting things on our behalf without our consent
•Make sure to advise them to NEVER make plans to meet with someone face-to-face that they met on the internet. People they meet on the internet may not always be who they say they are
So what else can parents do to help? Stay informed! Ask questions about their online activity the same way you would ask about their offline activities. Let them know that it’s okay to talk to you about what they are doing on the internet. Tell them that they can come to you if anything uncomfortable happens; and that you won’t blame them. The key to staying in the know about your child’s internet activity is communication! For more information please visit: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/internet-safety/social-networking-websites