Sue Scheff: Social Networking Quick Tips for Parents, Teens and Children

As the World Wide Web grows at an ever expanding pace, it is up to us to keep up with the changes as well as keep our lives safe virtually. Being virtually safe can literally lead to being physically safe. Chat rooms are dangerous places for adult, not to mention children. Meeting people online can be fun, but it can also be misleading.

Keep in mind when online the following tips, consider it Social Networking 101 crash course.
  1. Use privacy settings. This is a no-brainer. Keep the strangers out of your profiles and photos. Don't make yourself an easy target for predators and for bullying. Check your privacy settings weekly to be sure they haven't changed.
  2. Think before you post. In the same respect, think before you hit send. Imagine a teacher, a parent, a family member, college admissions, potential employer seeing this post and consider whether it is appropriate or not.
  3. Trust your gut. If someone is bothering you, block them. If you have suspicions, feel threatened, unsafe or uncomfortable, notify the site owner and tell an adult you trust. You can also contact www.cybertipline.com for more help.
  4. Check it out. See what others are posting online about you. Google yourself. Even though you are careful, others may not be. Hurt can come from friends as well as from strangers.
  5. Be savvy. People you meet online might not be whom they say. Meeting an online 'friend' in person only makes sense if you've told a trusted adult, it's in a public place, and you've got friends with you.
  6. Don't get duped. Ads and messages making offers that are too good to be true? Spam. Requests for personal account information? Phishing scams. Mark bogus friend requests as spam. Don't get sucked in.
  7. Be part of the solution. Don't use your space to trash talk others. Close out any account and services you no longer use. Promote a culture of self-monitoring so others won't be so tempted to step in and restrict teen access. You have the power to improve your online community!
Need more resources to help you further? Visit Social Networking Safety Group and CyberSafeFamily Group on Facebook.

Order Google Bomb book for more valuable information about maintaining your virtual reputation.

In Florida there is an Internet Safety "Safe Florida" website to give you more tips and resources to keep you and your family safe in cyberspace.

MUST WATCH VIDEO.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.

Related articles:

Mothers Against Predators
Chatroom Safety Tips
Stranger Danger Online
Parenting Online
Virtual Reality

Popular posts from this blog

Teens Starting College: Transition Blues

Image
Mental illness continues to mystify the mainstream, and students already stressed and anxious about classes, relationships, jobs and activities end up suffering from the stigmas just as much as the conditions themselves. But they don’t have to nurture their pain in quiet. More and more individuals (students or not), their loved ones and organizations are speaking up in favor of psychological help in all its forms. The following list represents some of the most common conditions occurring on campuses globally, though by no means should it be considered a comprehensive glimpse at an issue far more broad and complex. Clinical Depression : At least 44% of college students have reported suffering from some degree of clinical depression — and the number only escalates from there as years tick past. Thanks to prevailing social stigmas regarding psychiatric help, only 23% of victims reported that they’d be comfortable discussing their treatment. Considering the amount of s
Read more

Teenage Mental Health Options

Image
Teenage mental health is a growing concern, since 2020 studies have revealed that adolescent depression and anxiety has doubled. This is also causing the rise of suicide ideation and   self-harm   as well as youth self-medicating.  Since 2001 we have helped  educate  parents regarding  mental health options   for troubled teens in addition to  therapeutic boarding schools . This is not a decision that is made lightly. Has your teenager’s behavior been  escalating  for  more than a year ? Are they becoming more withdrawn? Depressed or isolated? More common is the following: -Defiance (ADHD, ODD) -Anger, rage -Cell-phone addiction (self-destructs when the phone is removed) -School refusal (skipping classes) -Lacks motivation -Changing peer groups -Substance use (self-medicating) -Self-harm (relieves anxiety) -Change in eating habits -Poor hygiene   Your teenager may be suffering with mental health issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible. In many cases it could be  typical te
Read more

Sue Scheff: Should teachers befriend students on social networking sites?

Image
As today's generation is definitely the surf the waves of cyberspace, where do we draw the line? Should teachers befriend their students? Should student befriend their teachers? With the growth of Facebook while MySpace is still alive more and more people are signing up for social networking. Whether you Twitter or Facebook, chances are you will run into your kids and your kids may run into their teachers - virtually speaking. As parents should be the monitor for their child's online safety; Should the teacher be part of their off-line - off-campus life? Although there may be some teachers that are comfortable with befriending their students, many would prefer to keep their private lives just that - private. Teachers, as well as many others that either own a business or are employed, like to keep their business lives separate. However there are many that prefer the mix. Depending on your personal comfort level, you will know where you fit in. Learning to respect each
Read more