SOCIAL MEDIA AND CHILDREN-ONLINE SAFETY

Presentation prepared by Family First Pediatrics

More and more children and adolescents see computers, smart phones, and iPads

as an essential part of life. 

Parents should be aware of what their

child is doing on these devices – and

more specifically, how their child is

using social media on these devices.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest

– these are just a few of the most

popular social networking sites – and

the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing

down. 

So, what should parents keep in mind

when it comes to keeping their child

safe on these platforms? Here are a

few tips and guidelines for parents to

follow:

Get to know the technology. 

Figure out how to set up a profile. Knowing

exactly how a popular social networking

site works gives you an advantage. It will

help you determine which precautionary

steps to take in order to keep your child

away from danger. It will also allow you to

be a part of your child’s online life.

Privacy settings are important

Check your child’s privacy settings to

restrict access and postings. Show your

child how to use these settings, and

explain what type of personal

information should not be shared

online.

Control is key

Adolescent children on social networking

sites are very susceptible to

inappropriate advertising or websites by

clicking on links. Monitor your child and

establish clear guidelines, including how

long they are allowed to be on certain

sites.

Your computer room should be the family

room

Keep the computer centrally located in

the family room or the kitchen. It’s much

easier to monitor your child’s online

activity when the computer is located in

a high-traffic zone, than if your child is

using a computer in the privacy of their

own room.

Limit smart phone usage

Much like the idea of keeping your

computer centrally located, restrict

your child’s use of smart phones to

avoid distractions. Remind them not to

check their social media profiles during

family time.

Promote kind and honest behavior

Cyber-bullying is a harmful trend among

young children on social networking sites.

Children are not mature enough to handle

the effects of disparaging comments

online. Discourage your child from

gossiping and posting anything that’s

untrue or potentially harmful.

Power down and shut down

Insist on device-free rules and encourage

communication outside of social

networking sites. Set aside a time during

the evening to power down all electronics.

Use dinnertime to discuss not only what’s

going on in your child’s life, but also their

experiences on social media.

To learn more about how to keep your

child safe, 

visit Orlando Pediatrician online or call

407-335-4760 today.

http://familyfirstpeds.com/