Social Media Musts for Parents
“Some young people find the lure of social media difficult to resist, which can interfere with homework, sleep and physical activity,” Dr. O’Keeffe said in the press release. “Parents need to understand how their child is using social media so that they can set appropriate limits.”
Here are some of the AAP’s suggestions to protect your kids online.
- Chat about Facebook. Talk to your kids every day about what they did online. Simply asking, “Have you used the Internet today?” “Did you post anything on Facebook?” or “Anyone text you today?” can open the door to finding out how your kids use technology.
- Be “friends” with your kids. Wherever your kids are online, you should be, too. The AAP suggests a policy that you and your child “friend” each other on Facebook, which serves as a sort of checks and balances system. If your child doesn’t want to be friends with you, consider that a red flag that he may be hiding something.
- Use the news. When instances of bullying, sexting, or other online health risks make headlines, use it as a conversation-starter with your child. Ask them questions like: “Have you seen this story?” “What would you do if you were this child?” and “What did you think about it?”
- Keep the computer where you can see it. Keep the computer in the family room or kitchen so you can have a better sense of how often your kids are online. Then create a family online-use plan that would call for regular family meetings to discuss online topics and check privacy settings and online profiles. Keep in mind that your kid can access Facebook from a Blackberry or iPhone too. If your teen never puts down his smartphone, make sure you know what he’s using it for.
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