When Do You Stop Monitoring Teenagers on Facebook?
If your teenagers and Facebook are inseparable, monitoring their activity on the social network ensures they are using it safely and responsibly. Facebook gives teens the platform to develop their social skills, making hundreds of friends within a short time. However, they can be exposed to adult content and cyber bullying, which might lead to health problems such as anxiety, depression or suicide in extreme cases. As much as you want exercise your parental responsibility, knowing when to respect their online privacy helps you maintain a healthy relationship.
-
Social Networking Safety
-
Teens with strategies to enhance their social networking safety do not need supervision. You, however, have to ensure they are capable of managing their friends on Facebook and can stay away from dangerous strangers. The National Cyber Security Alliance through Staysafeonline.com asserts that kids must know what to do when someone is harassing or threatening them. They can block him or report to the site administrator, for instance. If your teens are open with you and often share some information regarding their online lives, you can trust them to behave responsibly. Set family rules that guide your teens' Internet usage and encourage them to put their safety first when interacting with strangers on Facebook.
Reputation Management
-
According to a 2013 article published at Wired.co.uk, Liat Clark notes that a teen's biggest social networking problem is not exposure to adult content, but managing his reputation. The regular updates and pictures your teens post on Facebook can make or break their reputation. Before letting go of your teens' online activities, ask yourself, "Can they post something they wouldn't want me to see?" If you are convinced they won't do it, you can stop monitoring them. Remind your teens that the reputation he builds on Facebook can affect their well-being in the future. Let them know that according to 2010 report by Microsoft, 70 percent of employers have rejected candidates based on information they found online.
Privacy Settings
-
Although Facebook does not allow kids younger than 13 years to create accounts, some children have signed up anyway. The social network has put in place numerous tools that can help teens have a safer experience. For example, teens can control who sends them friend requests, views their posts or sends them messages. Ensure that your teens have activated such settings and advise them to inform you before making any changes. Insist on using a strong password to keep their accounts secure. With an account customized to suit your teens' needs, you can let them have fun.
Individual Character
-
Most parents often forget teens should be treated individually. What works for one may not work another. While one simply follows all your instructions, the other is curious to know everything that happens on Facebook. Even if you have his password, he might have a secret Facebook account. Your teen's character should influence your decision to stop monitoring him. Use your parental authority to shape your teens' characters, and make them understand the risks for irresponsible online behavior. Be strict and address careless online behavior gently to prevent teen-parent conflicts.
-
-
Peers and friends rank high on a teen’s list of priorities, suggests the University of Illinois Extension. Not only do friends provide companionship and entertainment, they also provide effective opportunities for learning how to get along with
-
As your child grows and matures, youll no longer be the end-all, be-all for her social life. You must let her make her own friendships and find her own personality. Part of this is trusting her enough to stand up to her peers, but its important to st