Social Networks

Connecting through the World Wide Web

Youth are increasingly using technology as a means to connect with their peers. Texting, tweeting and posting to sites has become part of daily life. When used properly, social networking can be a fun and interactive way to communicate and share information; however, it’s important to teach youth the safe way to navigate social media sites and how to appropriately post, interpret and react to what’s online. Learn the best way to start a positive dialog with your children to encourage them to have fun and stay safe using social media.
Tips for Parents on Social Networking
1. Learn about social networking and establish a social networking profile. If you are comfortable with social networking, it will be easier to talk with your child about it. Also, if you have a profile, you can “friend” your child and watch what she does online.
2. Check your child’s online profiles. “Friend” him and then regularly check to see what he’s posting. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, talk with him about it.
3. Make sure your child’s profile is age appropriate. The most popular social networking site, Facebook, has a minimum age of 13 to use their service, and youth between the ages of 13 to 17 have privacy restrictions built into their profiles. Make sure your child has the correct age listed on her profile.
4. Talk with your child about privacy settings and make sure his profile is set to “Private.” A public profile can be seen by anyone who’s on the social networking service. A profile should be set to “Private” so that only friends can see it.
5. Talk with your child about who they “friend” online. Online friends should be only those they know personally in the offline world.
In The News …

Teenagers Tell Researchers It’s a Cruel, Cruel Online World

A survey recently released by the Pew Research Center delves into the complex world of teen life on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Some of the findings may surprise you. From privacy settings and search histories, to timelines and messaging, this article outlines the top findings.

The report states that social media sites are “spaces where much of the social activity of teen life is echoed and amplified—in both good and bad ways.” Do you agree? Does the good outweigh the bad? Why?