Most of them have internet access using a smartphone or tablet. When your communication with them about their online lives is honest and open, you can give them the support they need. Here are some ways to start and maintain strong communication about online safety for teens. 

Being proactive not just reactive

A teenager may not be aware of all the dangers that come with using the internet. It is your responsibility as a parent to talk to them about internet use and safety. They need to learn how to identify acceptable and unacceptable content independently. 

They will only learn if you talk to them about appropriate online behavior and how to respect themselves and others online. They should know what is safe and isn’t safe to share online. It will help to talk openly about your own experiences online and ask them about the apps, games, and experiences they have an interest in.  

Keeping personal information private

You need to make sure your teenager knows not to discuss personal information or share videos or images with strangers. It is possible to set privacy settings on most social networking sites. Make sure your teenager uses privacy settings so only close friends can search for them, tag them in photos, etc. Talk to them about their personal information and how cybercriminals can misuse it. 

Make sure they have the latest antivirus software on their devices and know how to update it. This makes sure there are fewer vulnerabilities cyber criminals can exploit. If your teenager uses a Mac, you may want to know “what is the best antivirus for Mac?” The best solution should offer continuous malware monitoring and a user-friendly interface.

How to stay safe on social media

Even if a teenager claims to know how to be safe on social media, you can’t just assume this is true. Teenagers often think they know everything but they may not be fully aware of all the issues. They may not realize that photos of underage drinking and smoking could stay around online and do them harm. 

Social media safety for teens involves teaching them that anything they upload or message stays around online. They should only do things online that they wouldn’t mind you, a teacher, or a future employer seeing. Being responsible online means not saying things they wouldn’t say face-to-face and having respect for themselves and others. 

Take a positive approach

When discussing internet safety for teens, it is important to take a positive approach. If you take a negative approach, your teenager is likely to be resistant to what you have to say. Recognize and talk about the positives of using the internet. Make a habit of talking about what they enjoy doing online. Encourage them to download certain apps that you agree on together. 

Talk to them about how the internet has many positive uses but that they also have to be aware of certain dangers, such as cyberbullying and sexting. It could be embarrassing to discuss subjects like this but it is better for you both if you get them out in the open. They are more likely to come to you with their concerns if you talk openly to them in a non-judgmental way. 

Stay Involved

Stay aware of what your teen is doing online as far as possible. Take note of how much time they spend online. This can help you to identify if they are having problems. If they appear overly happy or sad after being online, this could indicate there’s a problem. Cyberbullying and online scams targeting kids are real so you should be proactive in this regard.

You can help your teen to build the ability to deal with risks they come across online. You can be a role model for healthy internet use and remind your teen about online privacy. It’s all about helping your teen to become a responsible digital citizen. 

Conclusion

Teenagers can experience various risky situations when they are online. They need to keep building their skills and knowledge to manage these safety risks effectively. As a parent, you can be a role model for internet safety. It is important to maintain open and honest conversations with your teen about privacy settings, online content, and personal information. You don’t have to hover over their shoulders all the time to help them develop a healthy relationship with the internet and know how to stay safe. 

Also read:

Is My Teen Addicted to Social Media?

Why Removing Devices Doesn’t Always Work.

The post How to Talk to Teens About Online Safety first appeared on Help Your Teens.

As we have witnessed with medicine abuse and other substance use, many parents live in denial that their teen would participate in this activity. Today sexting is considered the new flirting and some youth are not aware of the risks or consequences (potentially legal ones) they can fall into.

Across the globe we have seen sexting scandals in schools, from Duxbury, Massachusetts to Canon City, Colorado to Nova Scotia, Canada – it can happen anywhere. In North Carolina a high school quarterback faced felony charges and a sex offender status when he and his girlfriend were exchanging nude photos.

The consequences of sexting also extend offline. When something that was intended to be a private communication ends up in public, the shame and humiliation can drive our kids to the point of self-destruction. Another consequence of sexting: Experts have found children and teens that sext are more likely to engage in real-world sexual activity  than students who don’t sext.

For generations, many parents have cringed at the thought of having the “birds and the bees” conversation. Today we have to open the door for the “sext talk” without hesitation as children are digitally connected for an average of 9 hours a day. The parents of  Jessica Logan, Hope Witsell, Audrie Pott and Amanda Todd are sadly linked together by the aftermath of sexting and cyberbullying with the loss of their teens to bullycide.

It’s a parent’s responsibility to empower their children and teens with the knowledge to make good choices about how to use all forms of technology and social media. It’s their offline skills that will help them make better online decisions. Your teen may always be an app ahead of you, but they will always need your parenting wisdom echoing in their ear when you’re not there – while making their digital choices.

The sext chat outline for parents to open the dialogue:

1. Talk about it. Frequently and start early.  Stress the importance of safe sharing online. When your kids hear news of sext crime cases, initiate a conversation. Talk about how sexting leads to negative consequences even for adults. Revenge porn is rising every day. It can happen to anyone at any age.
2. Make it real. Kids don’t always realize that what they do online is “real-life.” Ask them to consider how they would feel if their teacher or grandparent saw a provocative comment or picture. Remind them there’s no rewind online and no true delete button in the digital world. Comments and photos are not retrievable.
3. Address peer pressure. Give your kids a way out – blame it on us. Tell them to let their friends know that their parents monitor (and/or spot check) their phones and social media, and you can’t risk losing your devices.
4. Discuss legal and online consequences. Depending on your state, there can be legal ramifications when you send sexual content or even participate in forwarding it. What goes online – stays online. This is your digital landscape.
5. If you receive a sexual message, never engage in it or forward it. Tell your parent or trusted adult immediately. If necessary, contact the authorities or your school.
6. Know that your parent is only a call away. Let your child know they can always come to you without judgment. These conversations are about building trust — our kids may always be an “app” ahead of us, but we will always be the adult in the family – lead by example and be there for them.

Contributor: Sue Scheff is the founder of Parents Universal Resource Experts, Inc and has published three books. Her latest is Shame Nation: The Global Epidemic of Online Hate (Sourcebooks, October 2017).

Read: 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

Read: How Cyberbullying Effects Your Teen’s Mental Health.

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If you are struggling with your teenager’s internet addiction and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your teen develop a healthy relationship with technology. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The post Is Your Teen Sexting or Posting Inappropriately? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Social media was created to make people socialize virtually, and that has been possible to some extent. There are multiple other benefits of social media as well, but the question is do the pros outweigh the cons of social media.

If you aren’t wise enough, things can get worse while using social media platforms. Especially with teens, with a lot of free time and the lack of proper guidance, things can go south for them.

Impact of Social Media on Teens

Not Social

We all have heard of so-called “Social Media platforms,” but are they really social? Some people use social media purely for socializing, but not everyone has similar intentions. The internet is harsh, and people with bad intentions make social media not social at all. Social media doesn’t depict real human interaction and doesn’t help with the social skills of teens. People on the internet are narcissists and are there to promote themselves instead of caring about others.

Increased Teen Depression

Social Media has taken many teens with its toxicity. Different studies support the fact about social media causing depressive symptoms in teens or everyone in general.  A study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found out increased loneliness and depression with the high usage of social media. It’s hard to handle the negativity, racism, body-shaming, and harassment going online. Cyberbullying and fake expectations that are way difficult to meet also contribute to added depression or anxiety in teens. 

Misinformation and Self-harm Content

Social Media being unregulated, carries tons of misinformation and harmful content. Although social media platforms have their guidelines and rules, people still find a way to spread harmful content. The misinformation has been on the internet for a long time, be it about fat loss, height gain, or even the COVID-19 vaccine. Teens are becoming vulnerable and trying to take their lives by getting addicted to the self-destructive content on the internet.

Avoiding adverse impacts of Social Media on Teens

Set Limit and Monitor the usage

Most of the social media problems are caused by the overuse and the addiction of the platforms. While spending more time on social media, we tend to forget the real world and get lost on the internet. A 2019 study suggests that people who spend more than three hours a day on social media might be more at risk of mental health problems. Now, most platforms also have a “your activity” feature where you can check the total time you’re spending there. It can help you keep track of your social media usage.

Encourage more face-to-face and live interactions

Like we said, social media isn’t social, so we encourage you to spend more time on live conversations. That way, you get to socialize and learn more from different people and perspectives. Having face-to-face interactions with people in real life helps you deal with loneliness and reduces the isolation factor from your life.

Follow people who inspire you more on Social Media

Now in the generation of the internet, everything is there at the tip of your finger. You could get the best out of social media by following influencers that inspire you. You can also use social media to learn, as ample pages share informative content that adds value to people’s lives.

The impacts of social media on teens can get horrific, but things can also get better if you get smart and monitor the usage. People have even lost lives due to social media, so be aware of its usage and negative impact.

Also read:

Why Removing Your Teen’s Devices Doesn’t Always Work

How Screen Addiction Effects Teens

How Cyberbullying Effects Mental Health

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If you are struggling with your teenager’s behavior due to internet addiction and have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen through emotional growth. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The post How Social Media Is Impacting Your Teen first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Age restrictions on these sites are in place for a reason, however we know that many teenagers will find a way around them if they want to bad enough. It’s not any different then tweens joining social media platforms designed strictly for ages 13 and older.

Love Is Respect offers advice, resources and tips for parents, teachers and teens.

Everyone deserves to be in a safe and healthy relationship, both in person or online. If your partner is digitally abusive, know their behavior is not acceptable and could be illegal. Check out the tips below for staying safe on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, foursquare and others.

• Only post things you want the public to see or know. Once it’s online, it’s no longer under your control.
• Be protective of your personal information. Your phone numbers and addresses enable people to contact you directly, and things like your birth date, the schools you attended, your employer and photos with landmarks may make it easier for someone to find where you live, hang out or go to school.
• Set boundaries and limits. Tell people not to post personal information, negative comments or check-ins about you on social media. Ask people not to post or tag pictures if you’re not comfortable with it.
• You can keep your passwords private — sharing passwords is not a requirement of being in a relationship.
• Don’t do or say anything online you wouldn’t in person. It may seem easier to express yourself when you are not face-to-face, but online communication can have real-life negative consequences.

Abuse or Harassment

• Don’t respond to harassing, abusive or inappropriate comments. It won’t make the person stop and it could get you in trouble or even put you in danger.
• Keep a record of all harassing messages, posts and comments in case you decide to tell the police or get a restraining order.
• Always report inappropriate behavior to the site administrators.

Leaving an Abusive Relationship

• If you are leaving an unhealthy relationship, start by blocking your ex on Facebook and other social networking pages. We recommend you don’t check-in on foursquare or other location-based sites or apps — you don’t want your ex or their friends tracking your movements.
• Adjust your privacy settings to reduce the amount of information that particular people can see on your page. Privacy settings on sites like Facebook allow the user to control how their information is shared and who has access to it. Remember, registering for some apps require you to change your privacy settings.
• Avoid posting private details on your friend’s pages. They may not have appropriate settings and doing so may allow someone to see your movements and location. The same goes for tagging yourself in pictures.
• Consider what is called a “super-logoff” — deactivating your Facebook account every time you log off and reactivating it every time you log back on. This way, no one can post on your wall, tag you or see your content when you’re offline, but you still have all of your friends, wall posts, photos, etc. when you log back on.
• While it is inconvenient and may seem extreme, disabling you social networking page entirely may be your best option to stop continued abuse or harassment.

Your Friends’ Safety

If your friend is in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, be careful what you post about them. Pictures, locations, check-ins and even simple statements can be used to control or hurt them. If you’re unsure of what’s ok to post, get your friend’s permission before you click “Share.”

Source: Love Is Respect

Read: 5 Benefits of Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens.

Read: Goals of Behavior Modification Programs for Teens.

Read: Why Residential Therapy Works.

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Since 2001 we’ve been helping parents find the right therapeutic boarding schools for their troubled teens. Contact us for a free consultation.

The post Teens Dating Online first appeared on Help Your Teens.