A Message About Cyber Safety
Tweens and teens today are, on average, interacting with digital media for 7 to 11 hours a day (according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study), and more and more through mobile technology. While so many of these digital experiences enhance their lives, it is hard to ignore the social and safety issues this access presents.
Below is a list of articles and websites that can serve as a starting point to help you become familiar with the sites and apps that many of your children are using, and can enable you to have informed discussions with your children about how to stay safe.
Facebook:
5 Facebook privacy settings you need to check now, Kim Komando, Special for USA TODAY January 18, 2013
A Guide to Facebook’s Privacy Options
Instagram:
INSTAGRAM AND KIDS: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO PRIVACY AND SAFETY
Instagram And Snapchat Becoming More Popular Among Kids, Facebook Considered Less ‘Cool’
Huffington Post By ANNE FLAHERTY 03/18/13
Snapchat:
Want that naked sext you sent to just go away? There’s an app for that, COURTNEY SHEA, Special to The Globe and Mail, Thursday, Apr. 18 2013
A Growing App Lets You See It, Then You Don’t, New York Times By JENNA WORTHAM , Published: February 8, 2013
“Although Snapchat says that it cannot see or store copies of content, the service still allows nimble-fingered users to capture screenshots of photos. Mr. Murphy calls that mechanism a “feature, not a vulnerability” of the service. Each time a screenshot of a Snapchat is taken, the sender is alerted that the image has been captured. There have also been reports of loopholes and hacks that let people save videos and screenshots. “Nothing ever goes away on the Internet,” Mr. Spiegel acknowledged.”
Twitter:
Twitter Safety tips for parents
Who’s Following Your Child on Twitter? Twitter Privacy and Safety Tips for Parents, By Andy O’Donnell, About.com Guide
Ask.fm:
Explained: What is Ask.fm? WebWise (an Irish website, but still very applicable information)
Social cruelty on Ask.fm & the whack-a-mole tendency, NetFamilyNews.org
Tumblr
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-reviews/tumblr
http://info.uknowkids.com/blog/bid/189882/Kids-Safety-6-Things-Parents-Should-Know-About-Tumblr
Omegle:
What is Omegle? Is Omegle okay for kids? BY JEAN – FEBRUARY 20, 2013 From Be Web Smart – For the Analog Parent in a Digital World
General Information for Parents:
Be Web Smart is a web site offering articles, tips, guidance and reviews for parents who want to keep their families safe and productive online.
Welcome to Cyber-Safety.com, the website dedicated to keeping kids safe in a wired world.
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/internet-safety
http://www.internetsafety.com/internet-safety-tips-for-parents.php
WiredSafety.org– Parry Aftab
Facebook Still Reigns Supreme With Teens, But Social Media Interest Dwindling
JORDAN CROOK , Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
Huffington Post by ANN BRENOFF , 3/22/13