Social Networking And Teens - Proceed With Caution

 

Social networking and teens seem to go hand and hand these days - some seem to think it is a part of growing up and gives them a sense of belonging to the popular groups, and others look at it as a means to escape the reality of not being socially accepted.  While it is possible to engage in some harmless fun on some of the websites, there are also risks involved, which is why teens should proceed with caution.

Since teens don't consider themselves kids anymore, no matter how much the parents long for them to remain so, they pretty much know what type of information about themselves they should or should not make public - however, parents should from time to time reinforce  what is and is not acceptable to show and tell on the internet highway of life.  It is okay to talk about hobbies, sports, a favorite song or band, but it is never okay for a teen to post their phone number or address  - doing so will only encourage strangers to contact them or show up at their home uninvited.

A few good practices to keep in mind when teens are setting up or using social network websites:

• When they open an account, they should use a screen name and not their real name.

• The password should never be shared with anyone,  not even their BF.

• Only add friends that they know in real life like their classmates, neighbors and family members.

• It is best to use the privacy settings that are available, so that no one outside their friends will be able to read their posts - doing so will prevent people that are not on the friend's list from viewing their post or photos. 

• Before posting something, make sure that it is tasteful and not sexually provocative.  You can make edits using some programs to remove any personal identifying information.

• They should not post any detailed information about any plans, like where they will be on the weekend to avoid meeting someone who could be a potential threat.  Indicating they are going to a movie is fine, just avoid indicating the location of the theater.

• Should they encounter any harassment or negative comments on their profile, it should be reported to the administrator, and brought to their parent's attention.

Furthermore, teens should immediately end any chat where the person asks too many personal questions including, their attitude toward sex or about their physical features - normally this is a sign that the other person is trying to manipulate them into having sex.

It is important that teens just be themselves when logged on to social network sites - they should not allow themselves to be bullied or pressured into doing something they don't want to do or that may cause harm to themselves or others.

There is nothing wrong with having some harmless fun or sharing activities with your peers.  Unfortunately, far too many teenagers are too blasé' (laid back) when it comes to the legal pitfalls of using social media, especially when it comes to posting explicit photos online. Sadly, only a small percentage would even bother to ask their parent(s) or an adult about the dangers of being online.

More importantly, It is very risky for a teen to attempt to meet with someone they've only known online.  Should he or she find them self compelled to do so, it is advisable to meet in a public place and take a parent along for the first meeting to ensure there won't be any problems.

Again, Social Networking can be an enjoyable pass time for teens, but they should remember to proceed with caution, especially when sharing information with strangers.