Technology Can Equal Success or Trouble

Today's children and young adults have never known a world without the internet and technology, and they are comfortable using it.  Parents and teachers who didn't grow up with technology as an integral part of their life often confuse that comfort level with mastery of technology.

Social Networking Sites

Facebook is the most popular social networking site, although it isn't for young children.  Users must be 14 or older to register.  Unfortunately, Facebook has no controls in place to verify a user's age, and many young children lie about their age to set up a profile.  Lying is an issue parents need to address, but there are other issues that may be more serious.  Facebook's privacy controls are fairly complicated and most young children are not developmentally ready to understand them.  Children may think their profile is private when, in reality, it isn't.  If a profile isn't private anyone can see the child's profile just by clicking on their name.

There are several online communities designed for younger children.  Club Penguin is the most popular, but newly launched Togetherville is receiving a lot of attention.  Unlike Club Penguin which relies on children's use of cartoon penguin avatars to protect the child's anonymity, Togetherville requires parents to set up the accounts with their child's picture and real name.  The site also encourages children to include their parents and other trusted adults in their network.

What Can Parents Do?

• Learn about social networking.  Sites designed for young children have parent pages.  Facebook and My Space have "Help" pages.  Read them.
• Set up a Facebook profile for yourself and learn how it can be used.
• Help your child set up their account and set their privacy settings.
• Be aware of what your children are doing on the site.  Sit with your younger children and learn to use the site together.  Have access to your older child's account so you can review their posts and know who their friends are.
• Maintain an open dialog with your children.  Explain that anything they post online is permanent and can affect their future.
• Set rules about appropriate online behavior.  Children should understand that if a comment would be hurtful to someones face, it is hurtful online.
  

Useful Websites

www.onguardonline.gov/topics/social-networking-sites.aspx

www.wiredsafety.org

www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/socialnetworking.htm

To learn more about Facebook:                                          www.facebook.com/help/?section=using

www.clubpenguin.com/parents/

http://togetherville.com/about

For a list of social networking sites for children ages 8-13:  www.commonsensemedia.org/website-lists/social-networking-kids                                                   

If you are a student or parent and would like some further assistance please feel free to call me at Knox 704-633-2922 x 820 with any questions or concerns.  My office is in the 8th grade academy but I deal with students from all grades.

With Warm Regards,

Ginger Throckmorton