AIBU to think if you don't have FB or Twitter you're going to regret it?

[Tee2072]

Because you're kids are sure the hell going to have it and you can't protect them if you don't understand it.

So stop being proud of your lack of knowledge and learn!

A thread about many many many many threads.

^^what tigerlilly said.

I've read that too much social media interaction can also cause you to lose your sense of humour.

And FB and twitter might change everyday...and so do dcs. I would rather spend my time with them than posting pictures of them.

Sorry if that makes me an irresponsible parent. I'll take the chance on it coming back to bite me in the ass.

mink I agree with you. SM takes an instant to pick up - hence its addictive nature - and a lifetime to put down the longer my dcs stay off it, the better for their development IMO. The time will come, obviously, but the later, the better, for their sakes.

I'm loving the 'I doubt I'll be back to the thread' flounce. So dignified.

I bet that poster is reading right now.

What was that system in offices that sent messages by some sort of "ticker tape" system (in the 70"s) which was interesting(2 me anyhow) was very "futuristic.then.

I'm involved with a parenting group which covers hundreds of families.

Every year we ask the parents what concerns they have and what topics they would like us to cover in the coming year so that we can arrange workshops, speakers and training events.

Every year they all say how worried they are about their children's safety online, that they want to protect their children and that they don't know where to turn for advice. Oh yes, they say, we're definitely interested in coming to any events you can set up about keeping safe online.

As a result, every year we arrange social media awareness workshops for the parents, we compile and share lists of where to get help, provide information on parental controls and so on.
Every year we cancel the events because nobody can actually be bothered to turn up. The lists go unread, the software is not downloaded.

I can only assume that parents aren't as bothered about keeping their children safe online as they say they are, that they really haven't got a clue about the dangers of social media and how to teach their children to protect themselves.

That is interesting Pip. I had thought about providing SM training / info for parents or in schools, but if the parents aren't willing to take a couple of hours to learn about it, then I don't know if it worth offering.

They might be more receptive in your area, MmeLindor, it would be worth trying. Good luck.

my dds have facebook and twitter i have them on facebook I dont use twitter i have an account , how can you know how safe they are with mobile devices or laptops people are able to safeguard their children without having to follow them about on social networking

I have lived through bebo Msn and another 1 cant remember which My dds have always been careful and safe online and bebo was a bloody battleground most of the time

You don't MrsJ.

That is why the most important online safety feature is sitting down at the kitchen table and talking to your kids about Social Media and internet safety.

Don't rely on schools - some are great, but others barely teach beyond cyberbullying, which is only the tip of the iceberg.

That is why the most important online safety feature is sitting down at the kitchen table and talking to your kids about Social Media and internet safety.

this is what I did I also had/have passwords to all the social media they used in the past I also copied a lot of stuff that was said on msn and withdrew and account from dd 1 when she was 13 but they have phones too, I think al i can do is warn them about the dangers talk to them about things and the rest is up to the dds themselves, they dont have 100s of people on their facebook or twitter , we can only do so much with social media I think

I think what I meant is children and teenagers have mobile devices there is only so much we can do to safeguard them the rest of it is up to children to not misuse being online

It is tricky, finding the line between monitoring/controlling their communications, and keeping them safe.

It all comes down to being honest and open with them. With older kids, you can show them stories such as Paris Brown and talk to them about what she did wrong etc.

Talk about oversharing, TMI, using offensive language etc.

yes it is tricky dd was 11 when we first got the internet it is a fine line I agree with you, I also talk to them about being offensive and it isnt just a computer screen there is somebody else on the other end, not everybody are who they say they are, blocked you tube etc for a while with dd2, it is so difficult but you want them to enjoy the internet and social networking without scaring them half to death

I don't intend to spend a large part of life trying to police my DC's activities on FB/Twitter (or whatever else will be around in the future). It's an impossible task. If you have access to their accounts and monitor it that heavily, most children will simply open up an additional, secret account that they can put whatever they like on. In the days of laptops in bedrooms and mobile phones with internet access, you can't possibly monitor it all unless you want to use keyloggers - which also takes up a lot of time and raises significant issues about rights and privacy with older DC.

IMO it is far better to bring your children up to know about the implications of sharing things on the internet long before they actually have access to it unrestricted. They don't need to know about how to use SM to understand that, nor do their parents. But it's a process that needs to be done over years to be learned well, not just a quick chat about being on the lookout for paedophiles. I have a whole armoury of examples where SM use has gone wrong and come back to bite people years later.

I love the internet. I think it's one of the most revolutionary and exciting developments ever. But it needs treating with respect. This is a message my DC will internalise as much as any other social norm, such as stealing is wrong.

Dahlen
Yes, exactly. Policing your DC's internet usage is an impossible task, and could be damaging to the trust between you and your child as they grow older and want more independence.

Providing constant and age appropriate information about all the dangers, and the positive sides of the internet is much more important.

I don't think that you need to use SM in order to do this, but it does help if you have an idea what it is all about.