Social Networking

What is Social Networking?

Video: Social Networks in Plain English.

What does look like? Here

What are the different types

What are the safety concerns.

• Kids accepting strangers as “friends”• Kids posting inappropriate or too much personal

content. Video• Bullying• Kids being exposed to inappropriate content• Kids often use a different set of “ethics” on these

sites.

What can we do to keep our kids safe?

• It is recommended that kids 14 or younger should not use social networking.• Balance your child's/teens need for privacy and self-expression with concerns about

safety and responsibility. Forbidding social networking sites probably won't work for kids in high school, so focus your energies on appropriate postings and safety information.

• Create safe privacy settings. Make sure they're set for “friends only.”• Tell kids to think about their photos and entries before they’re posted. Since anything

can be downloaded and forwarded, ask your kids if they want the world to see what they post. Remind them that future colleges or potential employers could be checking them out.

• Make sure they avoid all personal identifiers and avoid postings about parties, events, or activities where a stranger could find them.

• Don't let kids meet strangers.• Be involved. Know what sites your child is using.