Kids and Social Networking

Signs that they’re at risk online.

· They’re spending large amounts of time online, especially at night.

· You find pornography on the computer.

· They receive telephone calls from men or women you don’t know. Their making phone calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don’t recognize.

· They receive mail, gifts or packages from someone you don’t know.

· They turn the computer monitor off or quickly change the screen on the monitor when you approach.

· They become withdrawn from the family.

· They use an online account belonging to someone else.

Cell phone help

· Select phones with parental safety controls.

· Select programmable phones that allow children to make or receive calls only to and from telephone numbers approved by you.

· Choose cell phones that do not allow text messaging or internet access and do not have a built-in camera.

· Consider removing the internet feature from their phone.

· Review cell phone records for unknown numbers or late-night phone calls.

· Talk to them about appropriate and inappropriate uses of the cell phone, the possible consequences of sharing too much personal information, what to do if someone online asks them for their cell number and the importance of telling you or another trusted adult if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable.

· Teach them it is wrong to send hurtful or mean text messages to others. Remind them to come to you if that happens to them.

· Talk to them about the possible implications of sending sexually explicit images of themselves. They could be prosecuted, and they lose control of the image once it’s out.

Social networking tips

· View their profile or blog together.

· Do not give out personal information such as names, school, city or email address. This includes making or posting plans on the site.

· Do not post pictures online.

· Be alert to the dangers of communicating with people they have never met in person. People on the internet are not always who they say they are.

· Use privacy settings to restrict who can and cannot access their profile or blog. Only accept people as friends if they know them and trust them in real life.

· Monitor what their friends are posting regarding your child’s identity.

· Be familiar with the social networking site’s features and safety tips.

· Encourage teens to come to you or another trusted adult if he or she ever feels threatened or uncomfortable about something online.

· Never give out passwords to anyone you first “met” on a social networking site.

· Choose monitoring software for your computer. Consider www.getnetwise.org.

Teens and “Sexting”*

· One in five teens have engaged in sexting (Sending sexual information or photos via cell phones).

· More than one-third know of a friend who has sent or received a sext message.

· One in 10 sexters has sent these messages to people he or she doesn’t know.

· Almost all teens believe it’s dangerous to sext.

· Half believe adults overreact about it.

*source: www.netsmartz411.org