CommonSense Media’s recent article about the online “culture of sharing” provides 7 tips for parents who want to avoid their kids sharing TMI (too much information, that is). These tips can get the conversation going with kids about online privacy, though if you are approaching the topic for the first time after your kid is already into social media, you’re a bit too late!
The privacy conversation starts before the cell phone or the Club Penguin account. I’ve always been a fan of really simple criteria for deciding whether something makes it online. Questions like “Would you want this on the front page of CNN.com?” or “Would you be proud to show it to your grandparents?” can be a good first step with younger kids. Regardless, a few general rules related to the tips below should always be part of the online privilege.
7 Tips to Avoid Oversharing Online
Explain that nothing is really private — no matter what kids think. Privacy settings aren’t infallible. It’s up to kids to protect themselves by thinking twice before they post something that could damage their reputation or that someone else could use to embarrass or hurt them.
Teach kids to keep personal information private. Help kids define what information is important for them to keep private when they’re online. We recommend that kids not share their addresses, phone numbers, or birth dates.
Make sure your kids use privacy settings on their social network pages. Encourage kids to really think about the nature of their relationships (close friends, family, acquaintances, strangers) and adjust their privacy settings accordingly
Remind kids to protect their friends’ privacy. Passing along a rumor or identifying someone in a picture (called “tagging”) affects their privacy. If your kids are tagged in friends’ photos, they can ask to have the photos or the tags removed. But there’s not too much they can do beyond that.
Establish a few hard-and-fast rules about posting. No nude or semi-nude photos or videos — ever. Not online, not via mobile phone (known as “sexting”). No pictures of doing drugs, drinking, or having sex.
Remind kids that the Golden Rule applies. What goes around comes around. If kids spread a rumor or talk trash about a teacher, they can’t assume that what they post will stay private. Whatever they say can come back to haunt them in more ways than they can imagine.
Help kids think long term. Everything leaves a digital footprint. Whatever gets created never goes away. If they don’t want to see it tomorrow, they’d better not post it today.
(Tips from CommonSense Media’s article “Tips for Protecting Personal Privacy Online”. The full article can be found here. Photo @edenpictures.)
