Here are some things to do: Keep your computer in a public place so that you can see ata glance what they are looking at. Get your own social media accounts. Let your children teachyou how to set it up, so that you can appreciate what theyare working with. (And remember, don’t write embarrassingthings about your own children, their friends or your family.)You don’t have to use it all the time, but it might alert you toany safety issues you need to know. Make sure you understand the laws that apply to yourchildren, and know where to find advice when you need it.For a plain English explanation of laws that apply to childrenand young people, go to http://www.lawstuff.org.au/. Think about how you can best support your child if theyare bullied, or if a picture is taken or shared without theirconsent. They may fear being shamed or blamed for theironline mistakes if they tell you about them.The best way to helpyour kids navigate theonline world is to stayinvolved.50 To help young people understand the public nature of someof their postings, tell them that anything they put online couldeither end up on your fridge door, or on the noticeboard inthe school assembly hall. That includes personal informationlike an address and phone number. Ensure your children have privacy settings activated on theirsocial networking sites (like Facebook). Respect your children’s privacy, too – don’t intrude ontheir social networking sites, or comment on their onlineconversations. You do not want your child to be the one others arecomplaining about. Make sure they understand thatcruel jokes about someone in their class become publiccomments. If they trip over something that troubles them on the web, likepornography, try to remain calm, if and when they tell you. Ifyou explode and ban all access to the computer, they won’ttell you next time. Make sure they understand that sending nude photos ofthemselves or of someone else is likely to be illegal. There are parent-friendly sources of information about howto safely socialise on the net. Go to cybersmart.gov.auThere is also the cybersafety contact centre offering callersinformation and advice about Internet safety issues andconcerns. Telephone 1800 880 176.18
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