1. INTERNET SAFETY Elementary Age Children Catherine Horn, M.A., C.A.S. Cos Cob School Psychologist

3. Social Media = forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share ideas, personal messages & other content (Merriam Webster, term 1 st used in 2004)

4. How Many Do You Know? Search “Social Networking” on the App Store and there are 5,867 results as of February 10, 2015 and 5,884 on March 8, 2015 (+17 in almost as many days).

5. The Evolution of Communication Growth of Forms of Communication In just a few short years… … we went from “snail” mail and land line phones… … to email, text, Skype and FaceTime…

6. Growing Faster Than We Know … to an explosion of Social Networking sites including: My Space (4+) Facebook (4+) Twitter (4+) Google + (17+) Tumblr (17+) (Photo & Video:) Instagram (12+) SnapChat (12+) Flickr (12+) Vine (17+)

8. Some of the Pros: Inform Enrich Educate Connect Share

9. Some Concerns: 3 Ps: Personal Privacy & Permanence Caution: Sometimes used to put-down, dis, offend and insult others

10. What’s Missing? Communication via a device eliminates: tone of voice, facial expression, body language, manners – keys to effective communication!

11. Recommendations for Parents: Teach Internet Safety especially to NEVER reveal personal information! Restrict use to common, open areas, not bedrooms. Guide by teaching & modeling responsible use Monitor content shared and received Develop rules and enforce Limit amount of time spent Consider a Parent-Child Contract for Internet Safety Block inappropriate sites, content, etc.

12. Resources: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/19/style/letting-your-kids-play-in- the-social-media-sandbox http://nasponline.org/publications/cq/cq342internetsafety_ho.aspx http://www.safekids.com/kids-rules-for-online-safety/ http://www.nypl.org/help/computers-internet-and-wireless-access/a- safety-net-for-the-internet# http://www.kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth