Navigating Technology
Resources and Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe
Reading Material
Parents, Stop Teenage Privacy Now - Writer John Pavlovitz explains that mobile technology has changed how and with whom teenagers connect with and those changes mean that parents should invade teenager's privacy in an effort to protect them.
"Big Brother"? No, It's Parents -- New York Times article discussing one parent's experience monitoring her child's online activity.
Facebook Age Requirement: Children Lying About How Old They Are May Put Peers At Risk -- Interesting article that explains in simple terms how underaged children could put others at risk on Facebook.
lol . . . OMG! by Matt Ivester -- Written for college students, but explains how to guard one's online reputation well.
The Next Story by Tim Challies -- "Explore how Christians can live in this new reality with character, virtue, and wisdom -- and how we can respond to these revolutionary changes as followers of Christ in a digital age, learning to live faithfully as "the next story" unfolds."
It's Complicated the Social lives of networked teens by Danah Boyd -- "In this eye-opening book, youth culture and technology expert Danah Boyd uncovers some of the major myths regarding teens' use of social media." Amazon.com
Why should you be concerned about the Location Services on your child's phone?Digital photos have their own DNA. With free programs, and a click of the mouse, you can tell what camera was used to take a picture, what app was used to modify it, the settings used to capture a certain light, AND exactly where on a map the picture was taken.
Parents Need to Talk to Their Kids About the Website "Omegle" Now - Anne Marie Miller explain in blunt detail the dangers associated with the online video chat site Omegle. This post is shocking and eye-opening.
Apps Every Parent Needs to Know About - Snapchat - Anne Marie Miller explains in plain English the inherent problems with Snapchat.
What I Wish Every Parent Knew About Instagram - Tina M. the blogger-mom behind mothersniche.com writes about how she stumbled upon porn on Instagram when doing research on a DIY craft project.
Resources
- Common Sense Media -- read app reviews, Digital Citizenship resources, Cyberbullying resources
- Yoursphere For Parents -- Helping Families Live Healthy Digital Lives
- "Keep Your Child Safe Online" -- PC Magazine article reviews several filtering and monitoring software options
- Hay There Social Media -- website with many resources, including a blog and a Saving Face video course for parents
- Fight The New Drug - the purpose of this website is to raise awareness about the harmful effects of pornography using only science, facts, and personal accounts.
Digital Is Different
Privacy Settings
Understanding privacy settings for each social media platform you allow your child to use, is vitally important. In the physical realm, one of the ways parents protect their children is to be aware of who has access to their children at all times. We do that here at school when we run background checks on any adult who has contact with our students.
Disregarding privacy settings has the potential to anyone and everyone access to your child, and no one would advocate for that.
How to Manage Privacy Settings on Social Media
Parental Controls on iDevices
The first step is to turn on the Restrictions. Go to Settings > General > Restrictions >select Enable Restrictions. The first time you do this you will be prompted to set a 4 digit passcode. Set a passcode you can remember.
Location Services and Geotagging?
Monitoring and Filtering Options
Family Shield -- Filter adult content from your home internet. OpenDNS offers a free and paid version of Family Shield.
Mobicip -- Internet filtering for mobile devicesTeenSafe -- Monitoring service that allows parents to monitor their child's smartphone. Monitoring includes text messages, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Kik Messenger.
Extras
Create an Instagram account Click Here
Should you be concerned about Snapchat? article
How to use Snapchat Like a 14-Year Old Click Here
Open Letter to My Boys Regarding Technology -- letter
Meeting Handouts -- Click Here or Click Here
Christina's Presentation -- Click Here
Christina Jontra
Grace Community School
Email: cjontra@gracetyler.org
Website: gracetyler.org
Location: 3001 University Blvd, Tyler, TX
Phone: 903-566-5661 . 117
Twitter: @jontracation