Digital Citizenship and Cyber Safety
In this always on society, it is essential to know what to watch for, how to keep kids safe, AND to teach responsible use! The best way to protect your children online is through creating and maintaining open lines of communication. Internet safety is about parenting --- software programs alone will not protect your children.
Talk to your kids early about Social Media and Internet use!
Create open lines of communication to ensure your children feel comfortable telling you about their technology use.
Talk to them about dangers and risks online, what websites they are visiting, the people they are communicating with, the information they are posting about themselves, and any situations that make them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.
Establish a positive relationship with your children before an online predator does.
Sign an Internet safety pledge with your child.
Create and post Internet use guidelines and rules.
Most importantly, lead by example. Be aware on your own use as a parent.
It is all about balance.
Too much use can cause electronic overstimulation, creating addiction and abnormal functioning. It can also affect sleep patterns and communication skills. Use of social media as well as experiencing cyberbullying can result in increased rates of anxiety and depression, particularly in young girls.
Unmonitored internet use can expose kids to explicit content at an early age, which normalizes inappropriate behaviors.
Use social media and the internet in moderation and balance it with other activities. An example is turning off technology at dinner or putting smartphones away for a family game night.
Be careful - the Internet is like the Wild West.
There is no one central law enforcement agency for the internet and there are NO overarching, international regulations.
Cyberbullying is commonplace and results in students being victimized over and over again. This can result in increased anxiety and depression.
You do not own ANYTHING that you post on the internet and NOTHING EVER GETS DELETED!
Even with privacy settings, be careful, because you don’t have true control over who can access your information.
Hackers can access any photos or information, including what has disappeared or been deleted. Sometimes these images end up for sale on the internet.
Child predators are using apps to solicit children.
There is open access to anyone in the world with limited regulation.
It is so easy and unregulated that registered sex offenders under house arrest have targeted children online and made contact with them, having an ongoing online relationship.
Sites and apps can turn on your camera without the light coming on. You have no way of knowing that they are accessing your camera.
Sexting happens. Talk about it.
Teens are being asked to have inappropriate pictures and videos go back and forth.
Sending, possessing, or taking a naked or sexually explicit picture of anyone under 18 is illegal, regardless of consent. You can be prosecuted and arrested for ANY video or picture that is sexual in nature that you took, are in possession of, or forward!
DO NOT take a screenshot, forward, or share any sexually explicit photos!
Parents can help teens by having open lines of communication. Here are some questions the ICAC Task Force has provided for you to ask your teens about "sexting":
Have you ever received a naked picture on your cell phone?
Has anyone ever asked or pressured you to send a nude or sexual picture?
Do you think it is okay to send "sexy" messages or images? Why?
What could happen to you if you send or forward a naked picture?
How likely is it that images and messages intended for one person will be seen by someone else?
Do you know of someone who has sent a "sexy" image to someone else? Has your opinion changed of them and how?
What are some things you could say if someone asks you for sexually explicit pictures?
Ask yourself:
Where is the computer at home? Is it in a child’s bedroom or can they take it to their bedroom? (It should be in a central location)
Do you know your child’s passwords?
What social media does your child use?
They may have secret accounts they call “Finsta”.
What apps are they using?
Who are their friends?
Kids have many followers they don’t know and have never met. They are sharing personal information that is on the internet forever, all over the world, and accessible by strangers.
Remember, strangers on the internet can be more dangerous than neighborhood strangers!
What gaming devices do they use? Do you know how they are using them?
Do they have a cell phone and do you have the security settings on it?
Are you checking your child’s phone?
Social media affects your future!
What you post on social media is considered open source information and can be used in college admissions decisions, scholarship decisions, and employment decisions.
If you clean up your social media, you improve your chances at getting what you want in the future! Nothing ever gets deleted, but it can get buried. Give yourself a second chance!
Remember to be cautious about tagging other people in your posts. This can negatively impact their future too.
How can you protect your children?
Ultimately, parents are responsible and can be held accountable for ALL of their children’s activity on their cell phones, social media, and the internet. This includes if your child harasses or bullies someone else or chooses to send or receive nude photos.
Make sure you have an open line of communication with your child and that you have shared the expectations and consequences regarding technology. Make sure you enforce consequences, as needed.
Always lead by example - be conscious of how you are using your technology, how much you are using it, and what you post! Remember to put your phone and computer away before bedtime and have your family do the same.
Move electronic devices to a central location in your home and be sure you can access your child’s phone and know their social media usernames and passwords.
Know who your child’s friends are online! If something doesn’t seem right, talk to them. If someone is harassing your child or soliciting your child, make sure to document it and block them immediately - take any evidence to your local police!
If your child is being cyberbullied, your best bet is to ask your ISP to block the perpetrator.
Know what social media, apps, and gaming systems your children use and how they use them! If you see something inappropriate, have an open dialogue with them about their safety and why it is important to be cautious online.
Turn off the autofill feature on search engines for young kids in order to protect them from disturbing material.
TURN OFF GEOLOCATION FOR EACH APP!