Common Sense Social Networking Rules for Kids

Yesterday, we asked the question, “How young is too young for kids to use the internet?” The answer was that, for the most part, a child’s age is not as important as how they’ve been taught to use the web. If your child understands the dangers inherent to the web, and how to avoid compromising situations, he or she will be able to use the internet to improve and enrich their lives.

Of course, this raises an entirely new question. What are the most important things you should teach your kids about staying safe online? To help, we’ve put together this list of five common sense social networking rules for kids. Check it out below, and feel free to leave any of your own tips in the comments.

Common Sense Social Networking Rules for Kids

1. Limit Their Time Online – From helping with homework to connecting with friends, the internet can be an amazing resource for kids. However, as with most things, it is important for your child to use the web (and the computer in general) in moderation. One to two hours is the most commonly recommended period of time kids should spend online. To help ensure that your kids stick to the time limits you’ve established, make sure the family computer is in a common room of the home. Some scientists have speculated that there is a link between high internet use and social and behavioral issues later in life, but there hasn’t been much concrete research done on the subject. Nevertheless, limiting the amount of time your kids sit in front of the computer is a good idea.
2. If You Don’t Know, They Can’t Go (Online) – It’s not the end of the world if your kids want to use social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter, as long as you know that they’re using them. You should make sure your child discloses their account information to you anytime they set up a social networking account so that you can keep an eye on their profiles. It may be difficult to convince your child to share their information, especially if you’ve got a teen, but don’t let that discourage you. Let your kids know that you’re intention isn’t to spy on them, but to keep them safe. If your kids don’t feel they can trust you, they might hide a problem until it gets too big to contain.
3. Don’t Talk to Strangers – You’ve probably been drumming this one into their heads since they were infants, but it’s still worth mentioning. Just as in real life, your children shouldn’t be associating with people that they do not know. Double check your kid’s profile to make sure they are only befriending people that know in real life (classmates, family members, etc.). If you spot someone you are unsure of, ask your child about them. Don’t convince yourself that it’s none of your business. If this person were to come to your home, wouldn’t you want to know who they were?
4. Use Privacy Settings – Privacy settings aren’t all powerful, but they do provide a certain level of protection for social media users. If your child is on a social networking website, make sure that they know how to keep their updates from public view. Sometimes it helps if you use the same website, so that you can familiarize yourself with the controls too. The only thing worse than sharing something inappropriate online is sharing it with the whole world. If you teach your kids to use their privacy settings correctly, you might be able to stop a problem before it gets too far out of hand.
5. Keep Your Password Secure - While your child might think it’s perfectly okay to share their password and log-in information with friends, you know better. If other kids can log into your child’s account, there is a much greater chance that your child could be the victim of cyberbullying or some other type of internet attack. Remind your child that even if their friends are trustworthy, there is a possibility the information could fall into the wrong hands. If they don’t share their log-in information with anyone but you, they have a much better chance of maintaining their good reputation online.

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