Social Media and Cyber Safety for Parents
Tips & Tools
- Set Rules & Expectations – establish limits for which online sites children may visit and have a time limit for how long
- Use Parental Controls – install blocking, filtering and monitoring software in order to restrict access to sites with adult content and see which sites your children visit
- “Friend” or “Follow” – Friend or Follow your child's social media accounts to be aware of their online activities and monitor what they’re posting
- View your Browser’s History – periodically check your history to see which sites your children are visiting
- Use Privacy Settings – teach your children how to protect their personal information that gets posted online
- Guard Against Predators – turn off location services on mobile devices and discourage the use of webcams and chat rooms
- Teach Your Children How to Respond to Cyberbullying – report to an adult, block and delete
Encouraging an Open Dialogue With Your Kids is the Safest Way to Keep Them Safe Online
Talking Points
- Once something is posted online, it’s impossible to take it back
- Nothing is permanently deleted
- Only share photos and content you wouldn’t mind being shared with other people
- Never share your location, especially when out of town
- Never share passwords with others
- Don't share personal information on social media including address and phone number
- Not everything you see or read online is true
- Only accept friend requests from people you know
- Never meet face-to-face with someone you know online
- Check with a parent before purchasing anything online
Want more useful tips on cyber safety and good digital citizenship? Check out these links: