Tips for Teens about Social Network Safety

More than 70 percent of American teens use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter.

Do you know if your teen is safe on these sites?

Social networking allows teens to share personal information like never before. To protect your teen from identity theft, cyberbullying and online predators, follow the tips below.

• Have Them Check Their Privacy Settings – Make sure your teen’s privacy settings are configured so only their friends can see the information that they share.

• Don’t Let Your Teen Share Passwords with Others – It’s vital to teach your teen the importance of passwords. Advise them not to share their social network passwords with friends.

• Talk with Them about What’s Appropriate – It’s important to teach your teen how to properly act online. Explain to them how provocative posts could hurt their reputation and how it can affect them at school and work.

• Have the Stranger Danger Conversation – You probably had the “stranger danger” conversation with your teen when they were younger. Thanks to social media, you’re going to need to have it with them again. Your teens should never accept friend requests or messages from strangers.

• Show Them Reporting Features – If your teen is being the victim of cyberbullying, show them how to block the user. If the bullying continues, report the user.

• Teach Them What to Share – Explain to your teen that sharing too much personal information could lead to identity theft and other problems. Watch what your teen shares on their profile.

• Don’t Let Them Post Their Location – Some of the social media sites allow you to post real-time location information. Tell them to avoid using this feature. It could open them up to all sorts of problems including online predators.

It’s important to have serious conversations with your teen about social networking. Talk with them about what they can and cannot share on social networks.

For even more tips, read other postings on the Hue & Cry Security Systems Blog