INTERNET SAFETY FOR PARENTS

AGENDA  Awareness for internet usage  Safety tips for parents  Social Networking  Cyberbullying  Sexting  Resources  Questions/Comments

TECHNOLOGY IS EVER- CHANGING  The world is at their fingertips with a click of a button.  Face to face communication is changing based on the increased use of technology as a means of communicating.  Cell phones, gaming systems, computers, mp3 players.

EDUCATE YOURSELF  Become familiar with websites  Read through the privacy settings sections of various sites your child may use  Learn more about Parental Control Settings  “Google” your children. In other words, search Google for your children’s names on the Internet. Look at profiles & any postings about them.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN STAY SAFE WHEN ONLINE  Create honest and open communication between you and your child  Create a safe-space for them to discuss anything they have seen or been a part of on the internet without fear of punishment  Online information is usually not private.  People online are not always who they say they are.  Anyone can put information online.  You can’t trust everything you read online.

SAFETY TIPS CONTINUED  Help your child understand that once it is on the internet or sent via cellphones, it can’t be taken back  Limit internet use or create internet “house rules”  The internet creates a sense of anonymity but children need to remember that they will still encounter their peers face to face.  Don’t create fake accounts or impersonate someone else

CYBERBULLYING   Read the comments  Save the evidence but don’t respond to the cyberbully  Block the cyberbully  Contact the website company and have the cyberbully shut down

SOCIAL NETWORKING  Facebook  Myspace * Whisper  Twitter*KIK  Instagram*ask.fm  Tumblr (blog)*spring.me  Wordpress (blog)*Vine  Oovoo (video blog)  Virtual world sites (avatars etc)  Snapchat

TWITTER  Twitter- 140 character “status” updates  Public or private  If private you will not be able to see their tweets if they have not allowed you to follow them.  More kids moving to Twitter

HELPFUL HINTS FOR PARENTS REGARDING THE POPULAR FACEBOOK  Tips for parents section  “Lists” you may be friends with your child on FB but they may have multiple accounts and/or have placed you on a list.  parents.html parents.html

SEXTING  Sending illicit and inappropriate pictures of themselves over the internet or cellphone  Receiving above pictures and distributing them to other students.  Familiarize yourself with state laws regarding sexting.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO ABOUT SEXTING ?  Talk to your children about the dangers of sexting.  Set rules & consequences for breaking them.  Be aware of what they’re posting publicly.  Know who they’re communicating with.  Learn how to use their cell phone, several phones have memory cards that children store information on.  Be aware of texting shortcuts & acronyms.

WHAT TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEXTING?  Anything you send or post will not go away.  Most things you send or post will not remain private.  You risk jail time as well as being labeled a sex offender..  Risk reputation by participating.

RESOURCES  Onguardonline.gov  Ftc.gov/idtheft  Commonsensemedia.org  Getnetwise.org  Cyberbully411.org  Connectsafely.org  Ikeepsafe.org  Netfamilynews.org  Netsmartz.org  Wiredsafety.org  Staysafeonline.org 