Here’s an article I encourage every parent that participates in the social media space of web 2.0 to read: How Can Adults Improve Social Networking Sites for Kids?
Adults organize and set the rules for the communities our kids participate in off-line, i.e. churches, schools, parks, sports, etc. As parents, we need to be conscious of and sensitive to the kids participating in our on-line communities as well. We Web 2.0 adults can’t see who we’re communicating with on Facebook and all the other groups we participate in on-line, and we forget that there are kids there as well as other adults. This article is an excellent reminder, with specific tips we can all follow to help keep these communities safe for our kids.
For example, think twice before befriending a child or teen. Inviting them in to your space means you should watch what you say. Just as you probably shouldn’t use a string of 4 letter words at the little league game, your actions should change when you know you’ve got kids in the mix on-line. Is it really a good idea for your daughter’s best friend to see your old boyfriend or girlfriend writing on your wall? Remember- you can’t control what other people in your group communicates in that group.
Beyond your own Facebook or MySpace page , you really have to assume that there are kids involved in most any group you participate in.
The flip side is also true- we all need to teach our kids to watch what they say and post on line as well. We’ve all read about the tragic consequences of cyber-bullying, but our kids need to understand the less extreme consequences of their on-line activities as well. Set a good example and explain it to them.
Keeping our kids safe on-line is a tough nut. Read this article to help create a safer cyberspace for kids through your own actions.
As we discover good parenting and kid tips on the web in our search for birthday party ideas, we will share them here and post them on our kids tips page.
