It’s back to school time which means it’s time to have the
talk. The “tech talk” that is. However, talking to your teen about safety of
any kind can sometimes be frustrating as crossing generations tends to create a
disconnect. Teens feel invincible like nothing ever bad is going to happen to
them. Add a technical arena filled with social media apps, specialized lingo
and new ways of communicating may have parents feeling lost on how to talk with
their teens. Helping young people stay safe online has been at the forefront
since the introduction of the internet. But policing a black hole is
impossible. We can't possibly be with our teens every second of every day.
Their need to be connected is threaded tightly through their education and
social status and it can be very hard to get them to unplug. So, if you are
wondering how to nurture your teens about online safety but don't know where to
start keep reading!
The National Cyber Security Alliance have posted these tips
to help parents start the conversation.
Make rules that can be enforced.
Many teens have online
accounts that their parents aren't aware of, rules requiring advance permission
before creating accounts are likely to be broken and unenforceable. Before
setting a rule, think about whether it will significantly improve your
children’s safety and how you can keep the lines of communication on the issue
open.
Have a core set of rules the whole family follows.
Create a
set of rules that everyone in the family is expected to follow. Limiting use of
devices during meal times or other family time, practicing discretion when
sharing personally identifiable information about family members, and seeking
permission from one another before sharing information, such as posting photos
on social networks. This teaches your child responsibility and accountability
to their own family.
Make rules together and change them over time.
Young people
may surprise you with how much they already know about being safer and more
secure online. Ask them about the rules they have made for themselves and the
practices they currently follow. Make sure that the rules evolve as your
children grow.
It's not about the technology – it's about how it is used.
Get involved! Smart devices have cameras and apps that allow video chat or live
streaming. While super fun, they can also be used to send inappropriate images
or create security vulnerabilities. Teaching the family how to use the technology
appropriately and manage privacy and security settings will help everyone learn
how to better protect themselves online.
Establish a safe environment for technology conversations.
Teens are likely to ask everyone but their parents first for advice. Create an
environment of trust in which your kids can comfortably talk to you about their
experiences and issues without fear of punishment or blame, even if they have
broken a rule.
Help teens help their friends.
Encourage your teen to talk
to their friends on how to block users on sites and how to report problems or
abuse on the apps they use. Establish some parameters about when they should
seek adult help, such as if a friend may commit harm to themselves or others or
the law has been broken. While teens are unlikely to intervene directly in an
online incident a friend is experiencing, role-play and strategize about how
they would handle problems. Being safe and secure online is about trying to
prevent negative incidents, but also building resilience.
Talk to teens about your shared concerns. When it comes to
online safety, parents and teens share common concerns on topics like someone
accessing a teen's account without permission, someone sharing a teen's
personal information and having a teen's photo or video shared that they wanted
to keep private. Speaking openly with your teens often will help them make good
decisions should any of these occur.
If you’re interested in more information about
cybersecurity, contact BIT. We’d be happy to offer resources and training to help protect your business and family.
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