Talking with preteens about digital technology:
A helpful list of conversation starters…
Does privacy matter? Did you know that joining groups on social network sites can automatically change privacy settings?
What do you think a family member, teacher, pastor or neighbor might think about your postings, photo or video? What will they think about you?
How do you know for sure that someone won’t send your text message to others? What would happen if they did?
Have you ever received a text from a stranger and responded?
Is there any difference between cyber bullying and harmless teasing?
Is it ever safe to enter a chat room?
What kind of texts make you stop or slow down before you respond?
5 Essential Facts of Digital Life
1. KIDS ARE THE CREATORS – It’s all about communicating, participating; making music, images, and videos; and posting written content. And the content that is there? Kids must be able to know whether it’s credible or not.
2. Everything happens in front of a VAST, INVISIBLE, AND OFTEN ANONYMOUS AUDIENCE.
3. Once something is out there, it lasts for a long time. EVERYTHING LEAVES A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT.
4. INFORMATION CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. Anything can be copies, changed and shared instantly.
5. DISTANCE and ANONYMITY SEPARATE ACTIONS and CONSEQUENCES. Kids think they can get away with unethical or unacceptable behavior because they don’t see immediate consequences.
It’s up to us to help our kids understand the consequences of their actions and prepare them for the fact that the user name “Fat Green Wizard” won’t be so adorable at that first job interview. We have to help them think long term about posting pictures that will inevitably come back to haunt them. Here are a few rules to help as they grow up in public.
RULES OF THE ROAD FOR KIDS
1. GUARD YOUR PRIVACY – What people know about you is up to you.
2. PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION – Self-reflect before you self-reveal. What’s funny or edgy today could cost you tomorrow.
3. NOTHING IS PRIVATE ONLINE – Anything you say or do can be copied, pasted and sent to gazillions of people without your permission.
4. ASSUME EVERYONE IS WATCHING – There’s a huge, vast audience out there. If someone is your friend’s friend, they can see everything.
5. APPLY THE GOLDEN RULE – If you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to someone else.
6. CHOOSE WISELY – Not all content is appropriate. You know what were sayin!
7. DON’T HIDE – Using anonymity to cloak your actions doesn’t turn you into a trustworthy, responsible human being.
8. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE – Just because it’s online doesn’t make it true.
9. BE SMART, BE SAFE – Not everyone is who they say they are. But you know.
Check out the web site www.commsensemedia.org