Instagram
#selfie
I admit it...I love Instagram. I read this article today on Yahoo! about Instagram and teens. Just like any other social media site, the main thing is to monitor your kids for their safety. Teenagers often do not realize the impact a simple picture can have on their lives.
My favorite part of this article was this quote: "Teens think they're invincible, but they have to remember - once something is up online, it's there forever." This is so true and absolutely vital to remember. Even if it "goes away" like Snapchat claims or you delete it from your Instagram feed, it is always retrievable and it has already been seen and probably screen shot by somebody!
Read the article at:
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/the-problem-with-teens-and-instagram-109530386647.html
Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Snapchat - What do parents need to know? Keeping your Kids Safe Online - part 3
Snapchat - What do parents need to know?
Snapchat is one of the newer social media sites. Snapchat is a photo and video sharing app with a twist. The picture or video you send will disappear after 1-10 seconds. Users love the spontaneity of
that—it feels like socializing that’s digital footprint-free—but, there are ways to capture and
recover images, so no one should develop a false sense of “security” about that. It was developed as an antidote to “traditional” social networking services, where images can stay around forever and people have to worry about self-presentation and reputations. Snapchat users feel like they don’t have to worry if they’re having a bad hair day or just want to make a silly face.
Snapchat is one of thousands of media- sharing apps that kids use and it’s not even the 6
only one with disappearing pictures (Facebook, for example, has a similar app called
Poke). New apps are popping up all the time, and parents can’t possibly be on top of all
of them. That’s why it’s important for kids to develop critical thinking skills. But know,
too, that the values and social skills you’re teaching them help them stay safe in digital
media and other aspects of their lives.
As parents, it’s important to keep the lines of communication with your
kids as open as possible and work together to figure out what’s appropriate for them, in
terms of safety, privacy, reputation and time management. It generally just works better
to talk with your kids about their favorite tools—with genuine interest, not fear—because
they’re more likely to come to you when they need help and you’re much more likely to
be kept in the loop about all the cool technology they use and you get to learn about
Additional Information:
Connect Safely - A Parents' Guide to Snapchat
Snapchat is one of the newer social media sites. Snapchat is a photo and video sharing app with a twist. The picture or video you send will disappear after 1-10 seconds. Users love the spontaneity of
that—it feels like socializing that’s digital footprint-free—but, there are ways to capture and
recover images, so no one should develop a false sense of “security” about that. It was developed as an antidote to “traditional” social networking services, where images can stay around forever and people have to worry about self-presentation and reputations. Snapchat users feel like they don’t have to worry if they’re having a bad hair day or just want to make a silly face.
Snapchat is one of thousands of media- sharing apps that kids use and it’s not even the 6
only one with disappearing pictures (Facebook, for example, has a similar app called
Poke). New apps are popping up all the time, and parents can’t possibly be on top of all
of them. That’s why it’s important for kids to develop critical thinking skills. But know,
too, that the values and social skills you’re teaching them help them stay safe in digital
media and other aspects of their lives.
As parents, it’s important to keep the lines of communication with your
kids as open as possible and work together to figure out what’s appropriate for them, in
terms of safety, privacy, reputation and time management. It generally just works better
to talk with your kids about their favorite tools—with genuine interest, not fear—because
they’re more likely to come to you when they need help and you’re much more likely to
be kept in the loop about all the cool technology they use and you get to learn about
Additional Information:
Connect Safely - A Parents' Guide to Snapchat
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Keeping Your Kids Safe Online - part 2
Internet safety is critical. Here are some quick tips for parents when dealing with your children online:
- Always know what sites they are using
- Always know their passwords for all the sites they are using
- Stay informed about what sites are out there
- Stay informed about what your kids are doing
- Listen
- Observe
- Respect
- Do what you have to do - YOU are the parent. Do what you think is best for your child.
You can find additional information on my website at: https://sites.google.com/a/gaston.k12.nc.us/egoliverweb/parents/internet-social-media
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Keeping your Kids Safe Online - Part 1
I am going to be blogging some about Internet and Social Media safety for teens. I will be including lots of useful sites for parents to help you see what your kids are doing online! You can find information on my website at: https://sites.google.com/a/gaston.k12.nc.us/egoliverweb/parents/internet-social-media
The Information Super Highway, as the Internet was once called, can be a useful tool for everyone, but so often, it becomes a weapon when used inappropriately.
Even though you're not out there Tweeting, Facebooking, Kiking or Instagramming, you must admit, your kids are. That is the reality of 2014. We live in an instantaneous world where Google is a verb. I admit, I say this all the time..."Let me Google it." Then I get out my iPhone and do just that. Information is literally at the tip of my fingers.
Remember, your kids are doing the exact same thing.
Almost all of the students at Chavis have some sort of mobile device. They are just as attached to their technology as I am - most of them more.
With that in mind, we have to remember that it is our jobs to monitor that usage and make sure that our kids know the risks and dangers along with those amazing benefits.
The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act limits companies from collecting personal information about kids under 13 years old. Therefore, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all require children to be at least 13 to join. Now, we all know that there are easy ways around this and our kids are doing it whether parents know or not.
Parents should ask their children on a regular basis -
Do you have a Facebook account?
Do your friends?
Do you Tweet?
Are you posting pix on Instagram?
Are you SnapChatting?
If you choose to buy your child a cell phone, make the condition that she can't get a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account until age 13 and you approve.
It's tempting to allow an exception, but you might want to consider the message you're sending your child to allow them to break the rules by lying even if they do seem mature enough to behave safely and responsibly.
Once your child is of age and has your permission, sit down together to set up the accounts. Use all of the privacy restrictions available and do NOT give out unnecessary information like cell phone numbers or home addresses. You should also talk with your child about not posting that personal information as well.
Good Internet Safety includes NOT posting the following information:
- cell phone numbers
- home address
- location
- home phone number
- inappropriate pictures
- geotagged pictures that gives away location
Good information to tell your children:
- never "friend" anyone they do not know
- never share passwords with anyone but you
- If anything happens that makes them uncomfortable, they can tell you
- Social Rules apply online
- Once you post something online, it never really goes away
- Even if you delete something, it is still out there somewhere
- Colleges and employers check social media sites and do Google searches on applicants
Spot-check your children's accounts to see what they are up to - what is she posting? Who are her friends? Who is she following?
It might be a touchy subject, but YOU ARE THE PARENT.
Monitoring what your kids are posting online is essential. Always have their passwords. If they change it, take away their access until they give you the new passwords.
Some teens who know their parents are checking on them may set up an alternate account. If you don't see much activity or many friends on her page, that might be the case. Set up a Google alert with your child's name so that if anything about her hits the Internet, you know about it immediately.
You are the best judge of your kid, but I must encourage you to not be left in the dark. Stay ahead of what your children are doing. Stay informed. Be involved. A good defense is your best option in keeping your children safe online.
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