Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are modern ways of connecting people. Using these website you can not only talk to your friends and colleagues, but you can also share photos and videos. In other words, you can share every moment of your life with your friends. But as the popularity of these social networking sites grows, so does their risks and dangers. Social media safety has become a crucial issue and a concern for parents.
Hackers, spammers, identity thieves, and cyber bullies are all among the threats of social media sites. These dangers can threaten adults, now imagine what they can do to an innocent child or an immature teenager. As a wise parent, people should ensure social media safety for their kids if they allow them to use such tools. Addiction to social networks is now becoming a real problem among teenagers. This level of exposure can bring about risks of cyber bullying, hacks, sexting, and viewing adult content.
By following some tips, you can ensure your kids are safe online and they are having an enjoyable and secure online experience. These are a few tips that you can follow:
Educate yourself for the sake of your kids social media safety
As a busy parent, you must be spending most of your time for your work and you probably don’t have time to engage with what your kids are doing. But the truth is, if you are not updated about modern technologies then you won’t be able to protect your kids against their dangers. Spend some time exploring social media networks. Even create an account and become ‘Friends’ with your kids. Even ask them to tell you what their favorite social networks are. You can protect them only if you know the ropes.
Check your child’s privacy settings and teach them about it
The default privacy settings in most of social networking sites gives maximum exposure to public. So, you should tell your kids that the first thing to do after setting up an account should be maximizing protection. For example, one can use Facebook security options for a well protected account. Tell your kids to always make sure that their accounts are as secure as it can be.
Talk to your kids about the dangers and let them open up
Sometimes the consequences of posting a particular photo may not occur to your kids and teenagers. Educate them. Tell them social media safety is of course for their own good. Also, it is important that your kids come to you for questions and help rather than to their friends. If you establish a friendly relationship with them, they will always know that you are going to be supportive in case anything bad happens.
Keep the computer in a common area of home
Rather than keeping the computer in your children’s bedroom, try to keep it somewhere more central like the kitchen.
It is a fact that kids will engage in less inappropriate online behavior if they know their parents can watch over their shoulders at any time.
Set up rules for their online behavior
If your kids are old enough to use social networking sites, they are old enough to follow rules. Rules are not only good for their behavior around your home. You can set up some rules for their online activities. It is recommended to come up with a mutual decision about the consequences of breaking a rule.
