Coffee with the Principal
Mooresville Intermediate School
Today's Focus: Social Media & the Online World
"How do I keep my kid safe on the internet?" by Common Sense Media
"Internet safety goes way beyond protecting kids from strangers or blocking inappropriate content. It's about helping your kids use the Internet productively and practice safe, responsible online behavior -- especially when you're not there to answer their questions or check in on where they've ventured. Keep in mind that what may seem like basic knowledge to parents is new to kids just getting started in the digital world. Having a conversation before your kid embarks online helps set expectations and establish ground rules.
Here are the basic guidelines to share with your kid:
- Follow your family's rules about when and where to use the Internet.
- Be polite, kind, and respectful.
- Understand a website's rules, and know how to flag other users for misbehavior.
- Recognize "red flags," including someone asking you personal questions such as your name and address.
- Never share your name, your school's name, your age, your phone number, or your email or home address with strangers.
- Never send pictures to strangers.
- Keep passwords private (except from parents).
- Never open a message from a stranger; it may contain a virus that can harm a computer.
- Immediately tell an adult if something mean or creepy happens."
Resource: Common Sense Media
Social Media Basics:
"Social media is a variety of tools and methods for interacting and communicating with others online. Some popular social media tools include Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, and each of these offers a different way to share information, connect with friends, or collaborate. For many users of social media, online and offline social life is one and the same and includes similar highs and lows. What's really unique about social media is how it can enable users to instantly reach a wide audience, giving kids an opportunity to magnify their lives in a way that's different from the offline experience."
Source: Common Sense Media
At Mooresville Intermediate School, we strive to grow students into competent digital citizens. Below are ways you can help at home!
All Digital Citizens....Protect Private Information for themselves and for others & Stay safe online by listening to their gut feelings.
All digital citizens...respect themselves and others in online communities.
"How to support kids' character and life-skills development through media -- and parenting"
All digital Citizens...stand up to cyberbullying when they see it happening.
"Cyberbullying is the use of digital-communication tools (such as the Internet and cell phones) to make another person feel angry, sad, or scared, usually again and again.
Examples of cyberbullying include sending hurtful texts or instant messages, posting embarrassing photos or video on social media, and spreading mean rumors online or with cell phones.
If you're trying to figure out whether your kid is being cyberbullied, think about whether the offender is being hurtful intentionally and repeatedly. If the answer is no, the offender might simply need to learn better online behavior. If the answer is yes, take it seriously."
Source: Common Sense Media
Other FAQ's:
What are the different roles kids play in a cyberbullying situation?
How can I determine whether my kid is a cyberbully?
What can I tell my kid to do if he or she is being cyberbullied?
All Digital Citizens...Balance the time they spend using media and doing other activities.
"Kids are spending more time with screen media -- and at younger ages -- than ever before. But there really is no magic number that's "just right." What's more important is the quality of kids' media, how it fits into your family's lifestyle, and how you engage your kids with it.
The idea of screen time as a one-dimensional activity is changing -- even the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), whose screen time rules had been strictly age-based, is recognizing that not all screen time is created equal. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are multipurpose devices that can be used for lots of purposes. Designating their use simply as "screen time" can miss some important variations. The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens identifies four main categories of screen time.
- Passive consumption: watching TV, reading, and listening to music
- Interactive consumption: playing games and browsing the Internet
- Communication: video-chatting and using social media
- Content creation: using devices to make digital art or music
Clearly, there's a lot of difference among these activities. But as valuable as many of them can be, it's still important for kids' overall healthy development to balance their lives with enriching experiences found off screens. These tips can help:
- Pay attention to how your kids act during and after watching TV, playing video games, or hanging out online. If they're using high-quality, age-appropriate media; their behavior is positive; and their screen-time activities are balanced with plenty of healthy screen-free ones, there's no need to worry.
- If you're concerned about heavy media use, consider creating a schedule that works for your family. This can include weekly screen-time limits, limits on the kinds of screens kids can use, and guidelines on the types of activities they can do or programs they can watch. Make sure to get your kids' input so the plan teaches media literacy and self-regulation, and use this as an opportunity to discover what they like watching, introduce new shows and apps for them to try, or schedule a family movie night."
Source: Common Sense Media