Expert Insight

Any personal information such as addresses or the name of their school should be kept private...

Is Your Kid "Social"?

Many parents have concerns about their children being on the Internet. With so many children becoming members of social media websites such as YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and others, it is imperative that parents keep an eye on their kid’s online activities. Facebook and MySpace require users be at least 13 years old, but younger kids are finding out very quickly that there is no way for these social media sites to know their true age. By simply saying they are 13 years of age, children can easily gain access to these websites and create their own pages for sharing information.

Here are a few simple ways to keep your kids safe online:

Password protect computers in your home – By creating a password for your computer, you can keep your kids online time limited to when you can provide proper supervision.

Monitor the content they are posting on their social media pages – Make sure your children are not providing too much information pertaining to their personal life. Any personal information such as addresses or the name of their school should be kept private. Also make sure that your child is not posting photos that show too much information such as street signs, house numbers, car tags, school mascots or their full names.

Communicate - Encourage your children to discuss their social media interactions. Make sure that they inform you of any strange or uncomfortable situations they encounter on these websites. Be sure your kids know they will not get in trouble for bringing these matters to your attention.

Educate yourself – As a parent, it is your responsibility to research each site your child is on. Make a page for yourself and keep in contact with your children through their social media pages. The more research you do, the more in-depth knowledge you will have should any issues arise.

Take the time to discuss the dangers of online interactions with your children. If you find your child is refusing to cooperate with your rules for online socializing, you can always contact the provider and have their social media page deleted.

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