Monitoring Social Media
Posted September 9, 2015 - 4:21pm
Do you monitor your teen's social media accounts and if you do, what do you find to be the best way to track and how often do you check.
The one that really concerns me is Snap Chat?
sunnykathleen
I do monitor mine. I have their passwords as a condition of me allowing them to use social media while they live with me. I don't check it frequently. In fact my children kind of monitor each other, letting me know if they see anything inapporiate or shocking. There is so much bullying and seuxalization of things online that I want to be able to discuss these things along with internet safety while I sitll have them under my roof. Once they are adults I feel like it will be hard to control any of that!
Frugal Minded M...
I require my kids to let me follow them on all their accounts and my kids follow each other too so I'm informed that way too. Still makes me nervous. Especially when my oldest came home and talks about two boys in his grade are going to court because of sexual pictures they posted on SnapChat. I firmly explained that this could affect them forever and they might even be put on the sexual predator list.
justamom
Fortunately, social media consisted of Myspace when my kids were teens. If I have anymore kids it wouldn't be an option til they're teens & then I would be totally breathing down their necks. I never allowed my kids to message people or go into chat rooms. I'm probably overprotective.
jonbonjovious
I don't think you are so much overprotective as wise. So many young people don't know that once it's out there--it's out there forever. You can't "take back" something that was said or happened or a picture posted. It's always wise to lean on the side of caution.
CandyOvercaffed
Because this is a whole new world, I'm trying to normalize social media in my house to set a precedent for when my girls are teens. For example, if I want to use a pic of them for my blog or IG, I ask them about it and let them know that lots of people will see it and that it's there forever. My husband and I talk in front of them about the terrible things people say on FB without thinking about who it might impact. I also don't allow iPads or computers in bedrooms. I might not always be able to do that, but I'm at least trying to establish that expectation now.
jonbonjovious
I think this is a valuable lesson. So many people post pictures and messages and don't realize the consequences or how far that reach will go...forever. I commend you on this parenting.
justamom
Yes, I think the best setup we had was one desktop in the living area that everybody shared. I'm sure that discouraged posting & doing things they shouldn't. I had the same rule with TV, we just had one that everybody used. No bedroom time with electronics.
sunnykathleen
It is a different world now with everyone recording and documenting every move. I am trying to get my teens to understand that once they put a photo out there in the cyberworld it never goes away. Even if they delete it, someone has downloaded it or seen it. It is a new age for us parents!
Frugal Minded M...
Even telling them, they don't seem to get it.