Social Networking Help for Parents

Guest post by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway.

Internet Safety education and awareness is more than a job for me; it has been my passion for the past two years.

As Regional Office of Education#26 Internet Safety Coordinator, I have many roles. Besides developing and implementing online safety curriculums for 2nd and 3rd grade students, writing a regular newspaper column and working with over 500 children every single week in a computer lab environment, I also develop presentations to parents and educators on many online safety issues that affect our children. Social networking, the good and the bad, is something I frequently speak and write about.

Although there is some debate as to an actual definition of social networking, social networking websites basically allows you to connect with others worldwide in the privacy of your own home; it is usually free and is instantaneous These types of websites allow you to keep in touch with old friends, and establish new friendships. You can share music, videos, photographs or your deepest thoughts with one person, or with many. They provide an outlet for creativity and expression and can be just plain fun! These sites may enable those who are shy or awkward to hone their social skills without face-to-face contact.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), 61% of children between the ages of 13-17 years of age, have a user profile on a social networking site and most access these sites from home. 5% of children access social networking sites, but have not created a profile.

Under intense scrutiny, some social networking websites are taking steps to ensure a safer online environment for our children.

MySpace, for example, offers various safeguarding measures; an over/under blocking tool, younger users are automatically given a private profile-although age verification is difficult to enforce. MySpace will delete an account if a victim of MySpace identity theft will send a “salute”. Faux teachers’ accounts can be deleted, children can block users, and there are localized AMBER alerts as well. Many social networking sites have minimum age requirements and some allow parents to delete their child’s account without knowing the child’s password. MySpace will be releasing a free parental download called Zephyr. Here is how it will work:

Parents download Zephyr and install it on their home computer. Once installed, a parent will see the name, age and location their child published online, in a password protected file on their hard drive. Zephyr will identify any person who logs onto MySpace from that particular computer which would collect their information as well. In other words, if neighbor Sally comes over to your house and logs onto MySpace, you will see her information too. If a child changes his information, even from another computer, that updated information will be forwarded. You will not, however, be able to read emails or comments with this tool and children will be alerted that their information is being shared.

There is presently a similar online service available called MySpaceWatch. There are two versions available, one is free. Registration is simple. The website address is: www.myspacewatch.com

Many advocate the use of parental controls, such as filters or key loggers. Although these tools may reassure parents, some may rely solely on these measures, giving a false sense of security. Remember, our children access the Internet from locations other than home. (Over the next few months, I will be testing various parental controls and will report my findings on my blog)

I often suggest to parents and educators, to register on social networking sites themselves, in order to get a sense of the particular website and search for your children. However, there are online tools available that allow you to perform such a search WITHOUT having to register.

I would strongly recommend visiting and book-marking this particular site: www.wink.com

Directions are simple: Instead of entering a user name(in case you don’t know it), enter “Your Town, IL”, click on “both sexes”, “MySpace”(or all), click on a particular age group(or “ALL”), then click SEARCH. In seconds, hundreds of profiles from “Your Town” will be viewable, unless set to Private. (Please note, some profiles may be disturbing)

While some subject matter may be uncomfortable to discuss with children, it is critical we openly COMMUNICATE with them. It could save their lives! Talk, and listen. Ask questions, who do they talk to, why they like social networking, what would they do if they were faced with this or that? Go online with them; look at their profiles, read their comments. Set guidelines, time limits, create and sign a user contract between yourself and your children and post it on the computer (Some are available on my website). “Ego-surf”-Google your children as well as yourself. Keep the computer in a central location of your home, (if you have a wireless connection, take special care). It is critical we openly discuss potential online dangers so they are prepared and know what to do in order to stay safe online. Our children’s lives may depend on it!

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway is the ROE#26 Internet Safety Coordinator, a position that was created for her this Fall. She has spent the past two years spear-heading online safety awareness in her area. She assembled a team of dedicated community leaders, call MOST, to brainstorm said issues, and she serves as Chairperson. Working in a school district for the past five years with hundreds of children in a computer lab setting, has given her a unique perspective. She also writes a regular newspaper column for the local newspaper, has two teenager children and has just put together a resource blog for educators and parents on Internet Safety. Please visit: http://InternetSafetyAdvisor.info for further info.

Filed Under: Family • Internet