Some of you may wonder what it means to be "digitally responsible," and if it is really much different from parental responsibility as we know it. Raising responsible and well-behaved children in th 
e real world is often similar to raising responsible and well-behaved children in the digital world. However, the difference in the digital world is that the potential for anonymity makes matters worse for tweens and teens in the digital world, and many kids these days are probably more Internet savvy than a lot of moms and dads out there. We didn't grow up with this technology that seems so natural to them – experts often refer to this generation of kids and teens as "digital natives" and their parents as "digital immigrants". Is that something to worry about? Not really, as there are a plethora of resources that parents can dig into to get updated on the latest trends that our children are faced with - Social Networking, Cyberbullying, and Sexting to name a few. There are many places on the Web that provide great information for parents to stay plugged-in to the latest online trends. This blog, SafetyClicks.com, is a great source for parents looking to learn more about what's going on with kids on the Internet, and arm themselves with the knowledge they need to strike the right chord with their kids when discussing online behavior.
As social media is gaining popularity. More teens are using social networking sites, such as Facebook as a means of communication. According to a study by Pew Internet and American Life Project, teens on social networks still outrank adults 2-1. This only goes to tell you that we, as parents, need to be more informed and aware of how teens interact on these sites so that we can more easily provide guidance to our kids just like we provide for them in the real world when interacting with people face-to-face.
The Federal Trade Commission suggests these talking points for you to use in your conversation with your tween or teen for socializing safely online:
1) Think about how different sites work before deciding to join a site. Some sites will allow only a defined community of users to access posted content; others allow anyone and everyone to view postings.
2) Think about keeping some control over the information you post. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people, for example, your friends from school, your club, your team, your community groups, or your family.
3) Keep your information to yourself. Don't post your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, or bank and credit card account numbers - and don't post other people's information, either. Be cautious about posting information that could be used to identify you or locate you offline. This could include the name of your school, sports team, clubs, and where you work or hang out.
4) Make sure your screen name doesn't say too much about you. Don't use your name, your age, or your hometown. Even if you think your screen name makes you anonymous, it doesn't take a genius to combine clues to figure out who you are and where you can be found.
5) Post only information that you are comfortable with others seeing - and knowing - about you. Many people can see your page, including your parents, your teachers, the police, the college you might want to apply to next year, or the job you might want to apply for in five years.
6) Remember that once you post information online, you can't take it back. Even if you delete the information from a site, older versions exist on other people's computers.
7) Consider not posting your photo. It can be altered and broadcast in ways you may not be happy about. If you do post one, ask yourself whether it's one your mom would display in the living room.
8) Flirting with strangers online could have serious consequences. Because some people lie about who they really are, you never really know who you're dealing with.
9) Be wary if a new online friend wants to meet you in person. Before you decide to meet someone, do your research: Ask whether any of your friends know the person, and see what background you can dig up through online search engines. If you decide to meet them, be smart about it: Meet in a public place, during the day, with friends you trust. Tell an adult or a responsible sibling where you're going, and when you expect to be back.
10) Trust your gut if you have suspicions. If you feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, tell an adult you trust and report it to the police and the social networking site. You could end up preventing someone else from becoming a victim.
I also found this PSA that is worth watching that discusses Sexting, Cyberbullying and Online Safety. The video does a nice job of explaining "Responsibility" in the Digital World and how the lives of people around us can be affected by poor digital judgment.
Sexting, Online Safety & Responsibility 2.1C PSA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Colette 6-28-2009 @ 1:03PM
Teens are almost uniformly secretive about just these subjects, not to mention topics far less charged. The reality is that parents are providing their minor children with these devices and we need the law to allow us to see ALL content sent and recieved. Today Verizon to be sure, other carriers do not allow parents to monitor the content our children send/receive unless we stand over their shoulder or read them on their phone before they are deleted - both highly unlike and hit and miss scenarios.
If the law holds us responsible for the content our minors send into the ether we should have the right to see every bit of content - and take action on problems before they get out of hand.
I am a Mom who wants to be a digitally responsible parent. Yet it seems after hours on the line with VerizonWireless support and legal depts. that I am blocked by privacy laws from seeing the online/texting behavior of my kids. As parents, how can it be that we are simultaneously held responsible under the law for our childrens behavior yet prevented from monitoring it in order to take action to correct it!
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