So, I have been spending some time on FaceBook after realizing that my kids already have friends who are using facebook daily. While I am not ready for my kids to use it, I think that if I get to know it a bit, I will have a sense of the possibilities and pitfalls of this social media thing. We have some helpful computer rules in place already, my kids only visit one website that I trust and play games there, and they are instructed not to give out any information without talking to me first. This article points out some of the issues with other forms of technology which are now interactive -- your phone, Nintendo DS, etc, which can go online and get to sites you do not trust. The best advice I read here was to TALK TO YOUR KIDS! We cannot guess what new threats/temptations are on the horizon, but if we keep an open dialogue about the benefits and dangers of technology then we can hope that they will make better choices. I recommend reading this now so that you can be thinking about these issues even if it seems like many years before junior will have a cell phone or computer of his own.
HT: a facebook post by Fr. CJ McCloskey
3 comments:
I let Gianna (6) and Charlie (4) visit one website to play learning games. I agree, you can never be too careful!
Recently, we gave Gianna an e-mail account. So far it has been a cute way for her to send Dad messages during the day, as well as messages to Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents (I did let her know that she was not allowed to e-mail you MaryAlice! She asked!) Anyway, it has been a great way for her to practice spelling and writing, but she needs close supervision. It is impossible to foresee all the dangers of internet usage, but if we keep talking to our kids we can avoid many of the downfalls.
It came up at a playdate today that some moms have older kids who know how to reset and over-ride parental controls/locks on computer, cable and iphones. I am talking about 12 year old girls here, not serious techies.
Wow, even on a filter? I have heard that the best filters can be easily overridden by teens I just didn't know if it was really true. It just goes to show you how parents have to teach and explain and not just say no. We have to convince the kids that they are worth more than that trash, even if "everyone else is doing it!"
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