PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL AGE Patti Agatston, Ph.D. www.cyberbullyhelp.org pagatston@gmail.com
Teens and Technology Use 78% have a cell phone 95% use the Internet 91% have an email address 74% access the internet on cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices at least occasionally 37% of teens have a smart phone (up from 23%) 24% have a tablet 25% are cell mostly internet users 87% of teens text 80% use social media 37% video chat Pew Internet 2012/2013 data
If you lose access to technology, how do you feel? Depressed Sad Angry Disconnected Isolated Lonely Lost www.cyberbullyhelp.com If you lose access to technology, how do you feel?
Kids are doing lots of good things online. Discovering music Producing/editing videos Writing blogs Social/political activism Keeping in touch with friends
Yet being online has risks... Inappropriate Conduct Inappropriate Contact Inappropriate Content
Digital Native Digital Native Digital Wisdom
Start Early Parents are still a big influence. Use television shows and news stories. Communicate your values.
When kids are young Review appropriate educational applications and games for your phones or tablets. Commonsensemedia.org Bookmark appropriate sites on the computer. As soon as they begin using a computer, online gaming system, cell phone, or other mobile device, talk to them about online behavior, safety, and security.
As kids grow older... They need knowledge, skills, and values. Adults still need to monitor tweens and teens. But the best filter is the one your child develops internally
Even the most tech savvy kids need to understand... Not everything on the Internet is true. People on the Internet may not be who they appear to be. Once something is posted online, it s almost impossible to take it back.
What 3 behaviors put youth most at risk online? Talking about sex online Meeting multiple people online Harassing and embarrassing others From Crimes Against Children Research Center
SEXTING... Cell Phone Camera and Webcam Issue
Talking to Teens About Sexting Experimental vs. Aggravated- UNH CAC Research Center Sexual Harassment or Revenge motives Legal Consequences Emotional and Reputational Consequences Loss of control over the image = loss of personal power
Adults and Youth Protect your privacy. Monitor your online reputation. Only post information that you are comfortable with others seeing. Think about language, photos, videos.
Facebook New Features Tag Approval Location Sharing Timeline Connectsafely.org Provides Info for Parents on Recommended Privacy/Account Settings
What about Twitter? Instagram? Tumblr? Twitter is public and searchable unless youth choose Protect My Tweets. Instagram - creative photo taking and sharing. Can share photo links in twitter and post to facebook. Privacy settings available. Tumblr blogging site. Main blog is public. Can password protect further entries.
What about snapchat? http://snapchat.com/
Tools for Monitoring Internet Access Monitoring software Router level filtering (Open DNS) Viewing history Keystroke recording software Googling your child s real name, screen names and email addresses, google alerts
Tools for Monitoring Internet Access Monitoring software - Online Family Norton free (pc and mac) Router level filtering (Open DNS) Viewing history Keystroke recording software Search your child s real name, screen names and email addresses on a variety of search engines
Tools for Monitoring Smart Phones/I Phones/IPods Smart Phones Some come with safe browsing features, or use K-9 or mobicip applications for android phones Turn off geolocation for photo tagging, set app restrictions ipod touch/iphone/ipad: Default brower, Safari, has no safe search options
What is cyber bullying? Bullying through email, instant messaging, in a chat room, on a website, or through digital messages or images sent to a cell phone. Kowalski, Limber & Agatston 2008. Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digitial Age. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishers.
Teens Perceptions of Cyber Bullying (Cox Communications, 2009) % strongly/somewhat agree Boys Girls Bullying online is a serious problem with today s youth. If someone is caught bullying online there are serious legal consequences. There should be stricter rules about online bullying 60% 76% 45% 54% 70% 80%
Types of Cyber Bullying Impersonation Denigration Harassment Outing and Trickery Cyber Stalking
What are the effects of cyber bullying? Higher rates of: Anxiety Depression School absences Suicidal ideation
Be A Role Model for Civility Demonstrate respect for self, others, and the community.
Prevention Discuss bullying and cyber bullying with youth. Discuss the importance of speaking out and reporting.
Social Media and Digital Citizenship 69% of youth say peers are mostly kind to one another in social networking spaces 20% say their peers are mostly unkind 11% say it depends Pew Internet and American Life Project, Nov. 2011
Prevention tips Protect your password. If unsure, clarify. Don t respond when angry. Avoid harassing or embarrassing others online. Digital Citizenship is Protective!
How Can Peers Help? Don t forward mean messages. Don t add to the drama. Support the person being targeted online & offline Report abusive behavior Print the evidence to share with an adult. Talk to the person bullying if it is safe to do so.
FOR MORE INFORMATION www.cyberbullyhelp.com Netfamilynews.org Connectsafely.org Stopbullying.gov