Getting Started
The first step? Research. Familiarize yourself with social networks of all kinds. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat have earned their reputations as the giants of social media. You should also look at gaming websites, blogs, chat rooms, and message boards your child may frequent. Age limits and rules of conduct vary greatly, especially on less popular social networks. Parents should consider studying these guidelines in depth. Maintain your literacy regarding privacy rules – they can change whenever the software updates. Read the fine print!
Acting Responsibly on the Internet
Before you allow your child to sign on to a social network for the first time, have an informal assessment of their knowledge. This will give you a better understanding of where to focus your support. Have a frank discussion about what it means to have an online reputation. In addition, make sure your child understands how their digital footprint can affect their life now and in the future. Tweens and teens alike have limited capacity for self-regulation and will need your guidance as they face the risk of engaging in poor online behavior.
Privacy Settings
You can use helpful tools like privacy settings and monitoring and filtering software, but sometimes a written parent/child contract can work just as well. You’ll find that as with any other life lessons, simply setting a good example for your child will be their soundest guide. This means being more mindful than ever when posting yourself.
The Benefits of Social Media Guidelines for Kids
If you and your child follow these guidelines, you’ll soon realize the virtues of social media. It lets kids discover opportunities to engage in the community, can lend a hand in shaping a child’s sense of identity, and can help improve communication skills. The expansion of one’s online connections can also build respect and tolerance for others and lead to discourse about global issues. Finally, just remember to establish clear rules and boundaries for your child’s use of social networks, and keep tabs on both your child and the rules of the network.
Sources:
Safe Chat Rooms and Social Sites for Kids – Common Sense Media
13 Tips for Monitoring Kids’ Social Media – Parenting.com
The Truth About Kids and Social Media – Fast Company
