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36 The Lancaster - Fairfield Advertiser μ August 16, 2009 Classified Hotline 866.775.7666 ± www.theadvertiser.net
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace...What?
Tips for Parents - Talking to Your Teens About Social Networking
Since the Internet is such a big part of teens’ lives today, parents and
children need to discuss how to properly use social networking sites
to ensure their safety.
(MS) -- It’s no secret
young people growing up
today are more technologically
advanced than
older generations like
the Baby Boomers. In
those days, communicating
with friends was done
primarily by talking on the
telephone, writing a note
or speaking face-to-face.
There was no e-mailing,
text messaging, IM’ing (instant
messaging) or posting
comments on each other’s
personal Web pages.
In schools today, instead of
just passing notes, students
can send text messages on
their cell phones and communicate
online with their
bff (best friends forever)
or with people they don’t
know, and this makes it
difficult for parents to
monitor their child’s online
activities. In addition to
e-mailing and text messaging,
communicating via
social networking sites is
becoming more common
for both older and younger
generations. In fact, in
January 2009 Facebook
alone reported that they
had 150 million active users.
In addition, according
to Common Sense Media,
55 percent of teens have
an online profile on social
networking sites like Facebook
or MySpace.
“Social networking sites
can be great resources for
staying in contact with
people, reconnecting with
old friends, meeting people
with common interests,
and getting questions answered,
but unfortunately
not everyone who uses the
Internet and social networking
sites has honest
intentions,” said Jay Opperman,
Senior Director
of Security and Privacy at
Comcast.
What does this all mean? It
means that parents should:
1) become familiar with
online social networks like
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
and MySpace; and 2)
talk to your children about
the importance of being
safe and smart while communicating
online.
Here are a few tips to keep
in mind when talking to
your teens about the Internet
and social networks:
TIP 1 -- Choose your pictures
wisely: Pictures can
say a thousand words. If
you decide to post a picture
of yourself online, be
very cautious about what
you post.
“Do not use a picture
that will embarrass you
five years down the road
because even if you delete
the picture, it will never go
away. What goes online,
stays online,” said Opperman.
“Think about these
questions: If I post this
picture, could it prevent
me from getting a scholarship
or a job in the future?
What if the person or
persons I share my picture
with, shares it with others?”
TIP 2 -- Don’t talk to
strangers and use privacy
settings: Sometimes people
aren’t always who they
say they are and the Internet
provides an additional
means of being anonymous.
Remember, everyone
in the world doesn’t
have your best interests at
heart and some people are
looking to prey on children
and teens online. Social
networking sites have
privacy settings so you
can control who can see
your personal page. The
settings can’t protect you
100 percent, but they are
helpful so make sure you
set up a privacy setting so
only your friends can see
your page.
TIP 3 -- Keep your personal
information personal:
Don’t share personal information
such as your last
name, parents’ or siblings’
names, phone number,
address, social security
number or where you like
to hang out. People with
dishonest intentions can
use this information to find
you or steal your identity.
TIP 4 -- Don’t be a cyberbully:
Don’t bully
people online or in person.
You wouldn’t appreciate
a schoolmate or even a
stranger posting embarrassing
or harassing information
about you or
threatening you online so
don’t do that to someone
else. Online, this is called
cyberbullying, and now
more and more states are
passing anti-cyberbullying
laws.
TIP 5 -- Go outside and
stay active: Technology
is fascinating and it keeps
us connected in so many
ways, but don’t let the Internet
disconnect you from
other things that are important
in life. Spend time
with family and friends in
person. Walk the dog, learn
how to play an instrument,
get involved in sports and
other extracurricular afterschool
activities. Real life
connections with family,
friends and those most
important to you should be
one of your top priorities.