Computer and cell phones have emerged as the most popular electronic gadgets among the young generation. Parents often get concerned with their children spending long hours on these devices daily.
Earlier studies have shown a significant number of teens misusing these devices and getting themselves into trouble. A study conducted by University of Texas Medical Branch found 30 percent of U.S. teens engage regularly in sexting and sharing nude photos via email or text. According to another study, teens who sext have a higher chance of becoming sexually active and engaging in unprotected sex.
According to experts, young children using social media like Facebook, without parental monitoring can prove to be risky as pedophiles and criminals can easily access children's personal information and trap them.
Monitoring and controlling children's online activities are some of the best ways to prevent any negative impact of the Internet and the social media on children. Following are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for parents to ensure their children's online safety:
- Create a profile and add the kid to your friends' list. This will help in monitoring the kid's activities
- Try to keep track of kid's online activities through questions like "What did you write on Facebook today?" "Any new chats recently?" "Anyone text you today?
- Discuss about your social media activities with kids and encourage them to talk about their online habits
- Keep the computer in a common place like kitchen or family room. This will help parents to monitor their children easily and control the time children spend on them
- Discuss with other parents about the social media their kids are using and use the details to open a conversation with your kid
- Teach kids importance of maintaining good behavior on social networking sites to avoid any legal issues
- Ensure that your child is using age appropriate sites
- Formal monitoring systems like parental controls can also be used to track child's online activities
- Set time schedules for the kid's Internet and cell phone use
