Parents Dislike Social Networking

From LoveToKnow SocialNetworking

Understanding why some parents dislike social networking is the key to changing what happens when kids go online. Arguments against social networks range from security issues to the amount of time they can cause a child to spend in front of the computer.

Why Some Parents Dislike Social Networking

As a parent, the thought of your child chatting with a virtual stranger can be quite frightening. Today's news usually has at least one story about Internet predators stalking unsuspecting youngsters, and in some cases, convincing them to meet face to face. The thought of what can and has happened is very scary. This is the number one reason why some parents object to this form of communication. Other issues include:

Free for all: Many of the networks are not regulated, therefore anyone (even young children or convicted sexual predators) can sign up
No real anonymity: Despite keeping profiles private, there are still ways individuals can find out where your child lives or goes to school
Cyber-bullying: Just as a child can be picked on in school, it is more prominent if he or she is bullied in cyberspace
Inactivity: If unsupervised, youngsters can sit for hours in front of a computer, surfing websites or instant messaging with their friends. This causes them to spend less time doing other activities, such as being outdoors or reading
Bad influence: Most of what is posted on social networks such as MySpace, Bebo or Facebook is uncensored, which can expose your child to many activities that you may not approve of

Children and Social Networking

With computers and Internet access available everywhere you turn, it's hard to keep your child offline for any period of time. So, the best thing a parent can do is to properly educate and monitor the times when their children -- mainly teens -- are online. It's not hard to do, and it will lessen a parent's animosity toward social networking, since they can and will know just about everything their child is up to. Children, whether they are 12 or 19 years old, are at risk. If they do not have a very active social life outside of school or home, there is an excellent chance that they will turn to the Internet to find a few friends.

Changing Your Views

Anyone can change their mind about being online. If some parents dislike social networking today, they may like it tomorrow if they understand why their children or teens want to be online. Parents, consider these valid reasons why your teen may want to use social networks:

He or she may want to use sites, such as MySpace, to showcase their talents, such as music or art
As a means of communicating with and learning about other cultures
At some point, he or she may be old enough to make decisions about who they meet and date
Not every child is vulnerable to being stalked, nor will they run off with the first person they meet
He or she has a unique hobby and wants to meet others with the same interests
Not all are negative; there are private social networks that are monitored and religion-based

Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

If you agree that maybe social networking isn't all bad, and you allow your child to open a MySpace or Facebook account, then also keep these things in mind, which will alleviate a lot of your fears:

Keep the computer centrally located in the house
Enable parental controls and update them frequently
Know and check all of the passwords your child uses
Keep a printed history of your child's activities online
Urge your child to keep ALL personal information offline
Set aside only a certain time period when your child is allowed online
Talk with your child about the dangers of social networking

Unless parents get involved with and understand what their child is doing online, then there's no way to really grasp the reality of what he or she is doing. Take the time, and sit with your son or daughter while they are online. Let them show you what they are doing and what conversations are transpiring. Find a social network for yourself or join one together.