Facebook for Parents

Facebook for ParentsParenting Across Social Media

Monday, November 9th

Winchester Public Library

IntroductionHi!

I’m Amelia Peloquin and I work as a technology

consultant for libraries, nonprofits and small businesses.

My areas of focus include budget-friendly web design, training and support, social media marketing

and project management.

Find me at:

TechWithoutWalls.com

Please Note:

•For your reference, this slide presentation, associated handouts & links are available here:

http://facebook.techwithoutwalls.com

http://facebook.techwithoutwalls.com/

Kids are Connected

•Social media is omnipresent, and the majority of teens have an account on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.

•Teens are also spending lots of time texting and using the Internet with cell phones and other mobile devices (iPod touch, psp, etc.)

Patterns of Use

Source: Cox Communications May 2009 Teen Online & Wireless Safety Surveyhttp://www.cox.com/takecharge/safe_teens_2009/media/2009_teen_survey_internet_and_wireless_safety.pdf

http://www.cox.com/takecharge/safe_teens_2009/media/2009_teen_survey_internet_and_wireless_safety.pdf

Concerns for Parents

Age-Appropriate Internet Use

•Mainstream social sites like Facebook require users to be 13+ but it’s easy to lie about age.

•Many parenting experts think teens are too young to use these sites safely—parental guidance is recommended!

•Seek kid-friendly sites (Club Penguin, Webkins) for younger children.

Objectionable Content + PeersHate groups Pro-anorexia groups

Cyberbullying:

abusive behavior among peers that is perpetrated through electronic means

(cell phones, social network sites, Instant Messenger, etc.)

Sexting & Other inappropriate photos/videos (i.e. drug/alcohol use)



Predators & Other Creeps

Can be overblown in the media, but stranger danger is real.

(That being said, kids are more likely to be bullied/harassed online by someone they know in person.)

Phishing, ID Theft, Viruses/Spyware

•Many kids don’t know the basics about protecting your computer, email & other accounts.

•It can be easy to get tricked into giving up personal info.

•Most ads for “free” music downloads, ringtones, personality tests, etc are scams.

Deceptive Ads

Cyberbullying

What is Cyberbullying?• Name-calling, threatening language &

other verbal harassment• Spreading embarrassing photos or video• Sharing secrets without permission• spreading rumors online• Can involve trickery, exclusion,

impersonation

Cyberbullying is commonplace.



Examples of Cyberbullying

•Making or joining a Facebook group about someone•Creating a fake account online to impersonate/ridicule a peer•Creating or forwarding a YouTube video about someone•Sending threatening messages over IM, text messages, email or on social sites like Facebook/MySpace/Twitter

Victims & Perpetrators Often Overlap



Stop it before it starts

•Talk to your child about ethical and responsible online behavior

•Set expectations for appropriate use of Internet & mobile devices

•Help your child recognize harassment and know what to do if victimized by peers online

Know how to address the issue

•Know how to block cyberbullies on Facebook/MySpace/Twitter

(see “Locking it Down” handout)

•Know how to report abusive content on social networking sites and photo/video sharing sites

•Consider talking to teachers and school administrators.

Parenting Connected Kids

General Advice for All Ages

•Understand what kids are doing online

•Know the risks and decide what’s appropriate

•Communicate your expectations with your child

•Be present!

Parents of Young Children

•Talk about basic online safety▫Don’t talk to strangers online▫Don’t share passwords with anyone except

parents▫Don’t share personal info like address,

phone number, or name of school


•Create a “fenced-in” online space▫Use web browsers designed specifically for

kids▫Limit social networking to age-appropriate

sites like Club Penguin or Webkinz


•Actively supervise your child’s Internet use

•If you can’t sit and supervise, consider parental control options:▫OS-based parental controls▫Filtering home network traffic with Open

DNS▫Filtering/monitoring software options

Parents of Middle Schoolers

•Review Internet Safety basics•Set specific guidelines and rules

▫Don’t fill out forms from ads; “free” offers are usually scams

▫Peer-to-peer software like Limewire generally leads to spyware and viruses

Parents of Middle Schoolers•On social sites like Facebook and MySpace

▫No Strangers & don’t share personal info

▫Set strict privacy settings! The default privacy settings on these sites are not private at all.

▫Be a part of their online social network

▫Know how to block harassing users & report abusive/inappropriate material

Discuss public vs. private and consequences of inappropriate use

•Despite privacy controls, nothing posted online is ever really private

•Emails/IMs can be cut and pasted•Embarrassing/Inappropriate photos and

video can be easily forwarded to other people

Talk about Cyberbullying

•Know how to recognize and respond to incidents of cyberbullying▫Block users & report abuse▫Don’t retaliate

•Promote responsible technology use▫Talk about ethical and responsible online

behavior▫Set ground rules and expectations

Parents of Older Teens


•Ask to see their sites—they’re still under your

roof.

Reality check: If they’re posting photos & info they don’t want parents to see, they probably shouldn’t be posting it online in the first place.


•Discuss Online Reputation

▫Potential long-term consequences of inappropriate material on the internet: college admissions, future employment opportunities, etc…

College and Beyond

•Although Facebook has gained popularity with older users over the last two years, many young people see the social web as “theirs.”

•Across our culture, we’re experiencing a lot of awkwardness and boundary issues.

Parental Control Options


•Parental controls within Windows and Mac OS

•Home Network controls with Open DNS

•Special browsers for young children

•Filtering/Monitoring Software (?)


•Parental controls within Windows and Mac OS▫Current versions of operating systems

allow you to set up accounts with limited access to administrative functions.

▫This is a good way to protect your computer as well as your kid from viruses and other malware

▫See tutorial links at http://facebook.techwithoutwalls.com


•Filtering content at the home network level with Open DNS▫Better than pc-based filtering software, but

can be difficult to set up for parents who aren’t tech-savvy.

▫An incomplete solution: kids go online away from home and on mobile devices, too.

▫Intellectual freedom & censorship issues: as a librarian, I personally don’t like filters.


•PC-Based Filtering & Monitoring Software▫Good to consider if there’s been

inappropriate behavior & repeated violations of trust

▫Can be Problematic Kids use the Internet away from home + on

mobiles Can block access to legitimate sites Tech-savvy teens can circumvent it Using spy software can be detrimental to your

relationship with your teen

In Conclusion

1. Educate yourself as best as you can.2. Decide what you consider age-

appropriate + set limits/boundaries accordingly.

3. Be present and involved.4. Find what works for your family.

Questions/Comments? Feedback?

I’d love to know what you think of this workshop!

Please fill out the (brief!) feedback survey at

http://facebook.techwithoutwalls.com

or email me at:

[email protected]





Facebook for Parents

Education

wireless safety surveyhttp

cell phones

cox communications

kids

facebook

cox

takecharge safe teens 2009 media 2009 teen survey internet and wireless safety

age