We all remember that video post on social networking sites featuring no less than US President Obama calling on parents to monitor their children's internet activities. It simply relays the urgency to keep watch over what our kids may be doing online. True they are on their best behavior when they are on "POS" mode, which means Parent Over Shoulder, but children should be made aware of the consequences of what they post on cyberspace.
Make your children comfortable talking about what they do online. Open the gates of communication and ask them what they are interested in on the internet. Converse without judgment and you will discover what emotional or social needs they satisfy by engaging in online activities.
Most parents have a negative concept about the internet, but realize that this generation was born into an era of computers and virtual communication. The internet is an integral part of their lives, so don't dwell too much on just the threats posed by the internet; rather be extremely aware that they exist, but also recognize that the internet is a dynamic creative outlet or tool for your kids to explore their talents, interests and potentials.
What your children do in cyberspace is a reflection of what is going on in their lives. Most kids join social networking sites to hook up with friends virtually, but keep close watch of kids taking on a different persona when they enters cyberspace. This may be a sign that they have been ostracized and have to put up with some pretensions just to be acceptable.
Explain the effects of revealing too much of their personal details without being antagonistic. Children will feel protected rather than challenged if you constructively warn them that once their photos, messages or blogs go online, these are no longer under their control.. So many kids don't understand how this influences other people's judgment on their characters, so present them a simple analogy and ask if what they post is something they will want their employer to know about, say five years from now when they step into their career paths.
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