Is your teen on Facebook?
Many parents keep up with family happenings via Facebook. It is still the number one choice social media platform in the world. Moms and dads, grandparents, aunt, uncles, neighbors, girlfriends, colleagues; we all share our own family life for all to see on Facebook and we love watching other families do the same. We share what we eat, what we buy, where we are, weekend events, sporting events, Halloween costumes, you name it. No wonder your preteen and teen wants in on the action.
While Facebook is a fun, quick and easy way to stay in touch, Facebook also has some drawbacks. Sharing everything you do online might put you and your family in harms way. Your biggest concern about being online should not be learning how to navigate Facebook or the web, or how to use your new Smartphone, but how to keep you and yours safe while doing that! As you let your preteen take control of his/her account, s/he will need some basic tips, rules and guidelines to stay safe.
I have collected some easy-to-implement Facebook safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe while still sharing and interacting online with your friends and family. Implement these as you see fit!
8 Important Points To Discuss With Your Teen: Facebook Privacy and Safety.
In your ‘privacy settings’ on your Facebook profile, you have the ability to make all posts visible to ‘friends only’ instead ‘public’, ensuring that no one who is not on your friend list can see what you post. Check the privacy setting of your teens’ accounts right now. More often than not, they share with the world, on purpose!
In the same way, you can set your ‘privacy settings’ so that approval is needed before any posts/pictures you are tagged in will appear on your Timeline. I really like this feature, because you can undo the ‘tag’ before it hits your Facebook wall and thus prevent unflattering pictures of you on your own wall (they will still be on your friends’ wall, but at least if you untag yourself, there will be no direct link to you.) Teach your teenagers to do the same. This will save them much embarrassment in college…
If you have and use a Smartphone, turn off the ‘location services’ on your phone for both your camera and Facebook apps as found in your ‘settings’. I have permanently turned off my camera’s ‘location services’, but I am choosing to turn off my Facebook ‘location services’ only while away from home for an extended period of time. None of the pictures I post will show a ‘location stamp’ and no one will be the wiser on where I am. I have a few exceptions as to when I do turn on my location services on my Facebook app, one being when I am visiting a social media client and want to check-in to their place of business. If you do choose to let your teen use the location services feature, know that each picture posted will bear a place stamp.
When sharing private (family) pictures and videos – anything you do not want shared all over the internet – consider creating and using a Facebook secret group. A ‘secret group’ is not searchable (and thus can not be found) and no one can join or see who’s in the group or what is being shared. I have created such a group for my own family; my parents, siblings, their teenagers and my own crew, to keep our content private. You could create a secret group for your classroom parents, team parents, summer camp, after-school care etc too. Anytime you would want to be ‘in-the-loop’ but do not want your pictures shared to the world. These secret groups are a really nice under-utilized Facebook feature.
Make sure you change your password often. Encourage your teenager to do the same. Explain to your teen to never leave their Smartphone or tablet unattended at a party; their friends can (and will!) get on and post/pose as them. Their reputation can be ruined in a split second.
This next one is common courtesy, but can not be stressed enough: ask permission before posting pictures of other people’s children on Facebook! It is better to be safe, than sorry. Ask, don’t assume. Hopefully, they then will return the favor and not post pictures of you and your kids without permission. Teach your teen to ask for permission to post pictures of their friends. I have personal experience with seeing the ‘look of horror’ on my teens faces when a ‘friend’ posted unflattering pictures to Facebook.
Never, ever post something you would not say in person to your mother, father, friend, child, spouse or colleagues. I like to offer you the 30 second rule. Prepare the Facebook post as if you are planning to publish it, but do not hit ‘post’. Walk away from your computer, or put your phone down, for 30 seconds. Get a snack, wash your hands, get your mail, pour a cup of coffee, dig in your purse for a stick of gum; any of these will do. Now come back to it and reread the post. If you still want to post it, go ahead. Really, just think twice!
Don’t complain about your (current) job, boss, teacher, coach, sports activity etc. on Facebook. I’ve seen adults make those types of mistakes with serious consequences. Teach your children by being a positive example. Job security is on the line!
Scared you? I hope I did… Most Facebook accounts are open and easily accessible and provide incredibly detailed information about your life. Tighten down your own security and privacy settings alongside your teens’. It is so easy to do!
Dorien
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