Facebook launches Parents Portal Filled With Online Tips and Tricks

As a techie person, I can’t help but notice the huge online and social media gap that exists between many parents and their kids. This is due to several factors, most are originating from the parents’ side.

Whether the parents are technically challenged, don’t have an online presence, are not up-to-date with the latest trends and platforms or simply just lack the proper communication with their kids on all things digital.

facebook-1

Being a dad for a 10 and 7 year-old girl and boy, I guess I will be facing my share of discussions very soon. Believe me, no matter how tech-savvy you are, your kids will find the means to get their way. Mine are still young and they keep on finding new ways to outsmart me. So, the best way to be prepared for the inevitable is to be informed and most important ready to talk.

Facebook has launched the Parents Portal, a new section on the Facebook Safety Center. The aim of this portal is to help parents better understand Facebook’s policies, tools and best practices, to give parents basic tips for talking to their kids about online safety as well as providing them with resources from global experts.

parents-portal-1

Here are 6 Safety Tips from Facebook:

1- Let your child know that the same rules apply online as apply offline:
If it’s not something you want others to do to you, don’t do it to others. Just as you might tell your child to look both ways before crossing the street or to wear a helmet while riding their bike, teach them to think before they share online.

2- Try to be a good role model:
The adage that children will “do as you do, not as you say” is as true online as it is offline. If you set time restrictions on when your child can use social media or be online (ex: no texting after 10:00 PM), follow the same rules.

3- Engage early:
Data suggest that parents should engage online with their children as soon as they are on social media. Consider friending them when they join Facebook. It is worth noting that just as you lay the foundation for dialogue and conversation offline with your children early, you also should lay that foundation early online. It gets harder to do so if you wait. 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- Identify and seize key moments:
For example, when your child gets their first mobile phone, it’s a good time to set ground rules. When your child turns 13 years old and is old enough to join Facebook and other social media, it’s a good time to talk about safe sharing. When your child gets a driver’s license, it’s a good time to discuss the importance of not texting and driving.

5- Trust yourself:
Typically, you can adopt the same parenting style for your child’s online activities as you do for their offline activities. If you find that 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.

6- Ask your children to teach you:
Not on Facebook? Or, maybe you’re interested in trying a streaming music service? If your children are already familiar with these apps and sites, 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, 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.

facebook-2

These tips were compiled by Antigone Davis (Head of Global Safety, Facebook and Local Policy Lead). It is important to know that the above is not an exhaustive list covering all angles of online safety for kids and might not work for everyone, but as Facebook says, it’s a starting point to the conversation.

We will be tackling the above topics in depth, in future posts.

Share

You might also like

Leave Your Comment

Not on Facebook