Teach kids be smart about Social Media

When we talk about Social Networks and kids, concern arrives.  It is because many parents are trying figure out how Social Media works, while eager children arise since they want to join the atmosphere of Social Media. When this happens hundreds of questions are so common for parents about how they can teach children use wisely this new virtual world.

Parents cannot forbid their children use these platforms because they are very important and essential in our nowadays communication. Some benefits are the follow ones:

• ·   Get to know people with the same interests.
• ·         Share music, ideas, art, etc, that will help them to improve their creativity.
• ·          Be in contact with loved ones and friends who are far away.
• ·       Obtain good values because they can be volunteers in campaigns with nonprofit and charity purposes.

    Furthermore, parental control and supervision are essential because children should not surf alone on internet. Training is so important; sometimes kids do not do the best choices at the moment of posting things on sites as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, so forth, consequently, they are expose to many potential dangers.  some of these ones are:

According to some studies 7 out of 10 children post the town where they life and school’s name. 9 out of 10 reveal their real names and parents’ names, and share their photos online with unknown people. 8 out of 10 divulge their birth-dates and post important information and interests.

So these behaviors allow predators predators take advantage about this information and cause harm to them.

Here we have important some statistics revealed by preteens:

39% confess that they have lied their age in order to access to websites.

30% have received inappropriate advertising for their age.

17% say they have been in contact with unknown people that make feel them scared and uncomfortable. 

Approach to children and try to be their friends is so important but it has to be measure. Parents have to be aware of what kinds are doing online nevertheless, do not respect their privacy might damage the trust and the relation with your daughter or son.

Because we are worried about this controversial topic, we have some pieces of advice that will help you take control of this in the correct way. 

KINDNESS: it means you can teach them encourage kindness and treat others with respect and politeness, and to under no circumstances upload uncomfortable or cruel information about others. It will help kids build good relations and avoid cyberbullying. And ask them tell you about any inappropriate messages that people post.

CAUTION: in this aspect is so important that parents inform children that they cannot upload personal information and try to do not say the places that they are located in your vacations and never tell their home address or their phone number, due to these information robbers will have the chance to commit kidnappings, suicides, robberies, etc… A real guide and supervision will help your kids be safe on social Networks. Explain to them to think twice before hitting “enter”.

REPUTATION: WWGS (what would grandma say). When we talk about reputation we mean that it is necessary that kids avoid upload any kind of information, images, photos, videos or songs with immoral and bad messages… it damages their reputation and perhaps teacher, partners, family could see it, furthermore it can affect in a bad way their future  because upcoming employers can see inadequate material.

DO NOT SHARE PRIVACY SETTINGS: boys and girls must know about the importance of never reveal their her or his password , anyone has to know it, it is with the purpose to protect themselves against some theft that can enter on your account and use your identity. 

DO NOT UNKNOWN PEOPLE: kids under no circumstances have to accept friend requests from people that they do not know besides, they should inform to their parents when someone that they do not know send invitations to participate in certain kind of events, activities or games.   

If you want to carry out this information you have to know and take care how to do it moreover, you need to have a noble and good communication with them and try to make a “social agreement” with your children, taking into account the significance that is keep their own privacy, do not share personal and important information and consider their reputation and never hurt anyone through this method.

Since they are little it is too necessity set rules on the use of technology, such as do not use cellphones at the dinner table, keep computer in public, avoid laptops and smartphones in bedrooms or in hiding areas.

Finally, pay attention the way you teach them, because you can lose the conviction and the friendship and you have to respect their virtual sites, personal information and chats. Setting a good example of you behavior through your own virtual accounts can benefit your kids use social media safely.

...karol Alemán...