Kids and technology are inextricably intertwined today. But how can you protect children’s privacy online? As a frequent youth speaker for high schools, middle schools and colleges, I’ve had the chance to ask many parents and teachers this question firsthand. Luckily, the answer is simpler than you think: Applying a little common sense, a little practicality, and a little tech savvy know-how is all it takes to make the Internet a much more positive part of kids’ lives, even in an era of constant connectivity.
As you might imagine, Facebook, Twitter, and social media are a major area of concern for many families. So it wasn’t surprising to get a call from our friends at the Associated Press with questions for youth speakers asking for some tips about just what can be done to help make social networks a brighter place for children of all ages. You can see our answers here, alongside a number of other simple, practical and easily actionable strategies that everyday parents are using to make digital communications more secure, which we thought would be of interest if you’ve got a smartphone- or tablet-owning tot or teen in the house.
As an addendum to the clip though, we also had the chance to sit down with MSNBC and talk about what parents and kids alike can do to ensure that online exchanges are more positive. In the video, which you can see below, we talk further about safe computing habits – and a few things to keep in mind that may not immediately spring to mind offhand as you and your family go about sharing information via social networks,or browsing the Internet. It’s a quick and fun watch that may help put matters in perspective as to why it’s important to be aware of the information that you’re putting out there into the ether at any given moment, and why, while sharing is good, sometimes it’s also important to keep things to yourself. Enjoy!
