According to the latest Pew Research study, 95% of all teens are now online and 81% are using some form of social media! So if you have a teen, the likelihood of them being online and using social media is pretty high. Do you know what they are up to? With Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and so many others it can be hard to keep up with all of the different social networks.
But you can make sure your teens are safe. It is important as a parent that you speak with your teens about what social media networks they are using and make sure that you are informed about each. It is important to understand that if you haven’t talked to your teens about appropriate behavior or what is private/public information, they probably do not know.
So what can you do?
Here are a few tips for keeping your teen safe online:
· Have a Contract
o Set a technology policy upfront and sign a contract with your teen. Have your teen help you with the contract so that they fully understand and feel that they helped make the rules.
§ Make sure the contract includes passwords to all social media
o Have logical consequences if any of the rules are broken.
§ This can include a time-out from social media or even deleting the account(s).
· Know that Privacy Really Does Matter
o Before your child starts using any social networking website, parents should sit down with their teens and check that privacy settings are set to the strictest levels. And remind them that if they don’t want something shared, it shouldn’t be posted in the first place.
· Keep Digital Devices in a Neutral Area
o Instead of letting your teen have a computer in their bedroom or step away from you when texting or viewing their tablet, tell your teen that all online activities need to take place in plain view of you or another adult.
o Set a time each night that all digital devices must be turned off and kept in a central area, such as the kitchen, to ensure your teens are not on social media all night.
· Spend Time with your Children Online
o Have them show you their favorite online destinations. They probably know how to use the sites they are on and can teach you about them.
· Know their online friends
o Just as you would in real life, get to know the online friends your teen is communicating with. It is not difficult for online predators to create false profiles. If you are apprehensive, unfriend and report the person to the proper authorities.
The most important thing to remember is to talk with your teens about their use of technology and social media. Open lines of communication are vital in keeping your children safe.
For additional information on how to keep our child safe from the Internet, visit our website for more suggestions.
