The digital world is constantly evolving with new social media platforms, apps, and devices, and kids are often the first to use them. Keeping up the latest technology can be challenging but even the most digitally phobic among us can still parent successfully in a digital world.
Want to know the best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them. While kids value the opinions of their peers and may tell you your input isn’t welcome, on the issues that matter most parents are the #1 influence on their teen’s decisions.
Below are a few resources to help inform conversations with your kid:
- Bullying explained with anti-bullying apps at the end of the article.
- Cyberbullying explained.
- National Children’s Advocacy Center– Social Media Issues and Tips for Parents
- National Children’s Advocacy Center– Cell phone use and sexting awareness brochure for parents created by the Alabama Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information – Protecting your child’s privacy online. Information about privacy, identity, online security, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
- Net Cetera– “Chatting With Kids About Being Online” a 15 page guide created by the FTC.
- A Parents’ Guide to Mobile Phones– 9 page PDF with information on child readiness for cell phones, your child’s first phone, tips for smart phone use, helping kids protect their safety, privacy and security.
- National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation-Impact of media and technology on youth, featuring STAGGERING statistics about youth use of media.
- In addition, here are links to a few blog posts from Mind Positive Parenting: