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    Internet Safety
     
     

    As the holiday season approaches, many pre-teens and teens are receiving electronic devices and games. Michigan City Area Schools and the Michigan City Police Department have compiled some reminders for parents:

    • Keep an open line of communication with your child about what social media sites and apps they are using. Have a family meeting to discuss ground rules regarding the internet, cell phones, and other electronic devices.

    • Establish regular check-ins with your child to review sites and apps.

      • Walk through apps your child is using, and have them show you that they have set privacy filters to “friends only.”

      • Have them share passwords with you.

    • Make sure your child understands it is not okay to give out personal information (phone number, address, passwords, current locations, etc.).

    • Remind your children that nothing is private on the web. If they wouldn’t post it on a poster in the school lunchroom, they should not text it or post it online.

    • Talk to your children about webcam safety. Be sure they are not using apps or programs such as Skype and Yahoo to connect with people they do not know.

    • Be aware that interactive gaming, such as online games, Xbox, and PlayStation provide a place for your child to interact with strangers.

    • “Anonymous” is dangerous. Make sure your child understands that if things are coming to them anonymously (either online or through apps such as Ask.fm, Kik, or Facebook Messenger) they should not respond.

      • Stress that friends of friends may not be friends, and they should not be added as contacts.

      • Children should never agree to meet anyone in person that they met online.

    • Tell your children that if they feel threatened or bullied through electronic devices, they should tell you and/or an adult at school.


    Here are some articles and links for more information:


    Smartphone Family Guide:

    www.lookout.com/resources/reports/smartphone-family-guide

    11 Sites and Apps Kids are Heading to After Facebook:

    http://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/11-sites-and-apps-kids-are-heading-to-after-facebook

    11 Social Media Apps Teens are Using Now:

    http://www.today.com/moms/moms-you-oughta-know-11-social-media-apps-teens-are-6C10833314

    18 Tips to Stop Cyberbullying:

    http://www.parents.com/kids/problems/bullying/18-tips-to-stop-cyberbullying/

    Ask Anything!

    http://www.netsmartz411.org/