Orlandoflbest Blog: What are your Expectations on Social Media for your Children

Monday, June 29, 2015

What are your Expectations on Social Media for your Children

What are your Expectations on Social Media for your Children
William Jackson, Instructor at Edward Waters College
Educational Technology and Social Media
My Quest To Teach – http://MyQuestToTeach.WordPress.com/

As a Social Media speaker, blogger and educator in the elementary
and higher education environment too many youth and teens are
posting the wrong messages on their Social Media platforms. A
teen’s first impression is creating lasting images that will follow them
forever from the digital content they are creating.
The use of Social Media has grown to an obsession for many youth
and teens and their judgements are clouded by wanting to be popular
and their content potentially going “viral.” Advancements in Smartphone
technology, wireless accessibility and the ease of use of Social Media
platforms has created dangerous situations for youth and teens
because they are putting their whole lives online for the world to see.

Exposure to Cyberbullying, Sexting activities, Cyberporn and Cyberstalking
is increasing to situations of physical, emotional and psychological
harm to youth and teens. There needs to be more Social Media
workshops for teens “digital footprints and content” teens need to learn
the content they post online never goes away. The idea of deleting
one account and opening up another to “hide” seems easy enough,
talking to teens and demonstrating the power of search engines,
cache, and digital software teens are learning they cannot hide
their “digital footprints, content and presence.”

The mentality of many teens is that even if they don’t use their real
names no one can find them is a dangerous misunderstanding with
potentially costly consequences. Parents play a key role in monitoring
their children’s digital activity especially this summer when school is
out and there is little or no parental monitoring. Teens cannot be
given free reign of the Internet because the Internet reflects our
society; there is good and evil. Gangs and terrorists groups are
recruiting online to entice teens to participate in activities that can
threaten lives in the United States.

The importance of teaching teens to Brand themselves and Market
their abilities, skills and intelligence for careers and higher education
is important. It is key for parents to be “Friends” on Social Media sites
with children until 18 to monitor online behavior because an online
“digital footprint” is the first impression that society will receive before
physical meeting is arranged for college entrance, interview of jobs,
internships and even military service. Parents should have and share
their expectations of trust for using Social Media, not only for their
children’s content, but who they are friends with.

Parents should not be scared to monitor their children. If their children’s
online activity is ever questioned by school officials or law enforcement,
the parent will be held accountable and responsible for actions that
may be criminal behaviors. Bullying/Cyberbullying, CyberStalking,
Cyberporn and Sexting in many states can be prosecuted as third
degree felonies. A study by Education Database Online found that
43 percent of parents look in on their children’s Facebook
pages, Twitter feeds, Instagram photos weekly to make sure that their
children are investing in their futures not destroying them.

Parents should be role models, if parents are looking at porn and
violence they teach children it is ok because the adults in their lives
are doing it. A good rule is never underestimate your child or
children when it comes to technology.

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