Are your children online? Antigone Davis, Head of Global Safety at Facebook, gives us parenting tips to keep us ahead of the game.
1. Stick with what works.
Typically, you can employ the same parenting style for your kids’ online activities as you do offline. If you find your child responds best to a negotiated agreement, create a contract that you can both sign. Or, maybe your child just needs to know the basic rules. In that case, you can establish them early when they first receive a mobile device.
2. The old adage your kids will ‘do as you do, not as you say’ is as true online as it is offline.
Try to be a good role model. If you set time restrictions on when your child can use social media or be online, for example no texting after 10pm, modelling that same behaviour makes a big difference. If you want your child to be civil online, model civility and respect in your texts to him or her.
3. Engage early and establish norms.
Data suggests parents should engage online with their children as soon as they are on social media, by ‘friending’ them as soon as they join Facebook or following them on Instagram when they sign up. It gets harder to do so if you wait. While this is not surprising, it is worth noting that just as you lay the foundation for dialogue and conversation offline with your children early, you have to lay that foundation early online. Even before they are on social media, talk to them about technology as a whole. It can help lay the groundwork for future conversations.
4. Seize key moments.
There are many natural times to have these conversations: when they get their first mobile phone (it is a good time to establish ground rules), when your child turns 13 and is old enough to join Facebook, Instagram and other social media services, or when your child gets a driver’s license (it is a good time to discuss the importance of not texting and driving).
5. Ask your children to teach you.
Not on Instagram? Maybe you are interested in trying a streaming music service? If your children are already familiar with these services, they can be an excellent resource. The conversation can also serve as an opportunity to talk about issues of safety, privacy and security. For example, maybe you can ask them questions about privacy settings as you set up your own Facebook account. And, as most parents know all too well, your child will likely appreciate the opportunity to teach you.
This list is only a start and it may not fit the needs of your family exactly. The important thing is that you are having the conversation.