Privacy and internet safety are two topics that faculty facilitators discussed at our February Tech Talk presentation for parents. On School-owned devices, we have installed filters and other internet safety nets. However, unless parents install similar programs on personal devices (phones, tablets, laptops, Kindles, iPod Touches, etc.), students may be unwittingly providing more information about themselves than you’re comfortable with. We suggest that you periodically check your child’s devices:
- Make sure that the privacy settings (in each app) are at the highest level. You probably don’t want the sweet video of your child lip-syncing to Beyonce to be all over the internet.
- Be aware that many apps require that users are 13 years old or older. Sometimes, children fudge their ages so that they can purchase apps that may not be appropriate to their age. Many of the popular apps that parents and older siblings use (Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram, etc) are not meant for children.
- If you have questions about the advisability of your child having a certain app, consider reading what Common Sense Media has to say about it. Common Sense Media reviews, rates, and advises parents about everything from books to apps to movies.
While your decisions at home are wholly yours, when home technology use creates issues during the school day, we may need to become involved.
The internet offers child ways to learn, create, and connect in ways that we as parents could never have imagined when we were their age. While we appreciate our good fortune, we also need to help them learn to use these tools appropriately and responsibly.