All parents have heard of social networking sites and most probably have their own accounts. However, there are several social networks today that are aimed specifically at children. Even if parents know how to keep themselves safe while social networking, there are somewhat different rules when it comes to protecting their children.  Parents must educate their children about the potential dangers of social networks without making them fearful of experiencing life.

Many social networking sites that cater to children offer added security measures that are not present on sites intended for adults.  While this is excellent, there is still no way for these sites to make the internet a completely safe place for children. In this article, you will learn certain things you can do to keep your children safe when they use social networks.

1. Keep Personal Facts Private

One of the most important things you can teach your children is to not post private information on social networks. Make sure they know to never share their phone number, address, school, or even their birthday with people online. Many social networks for kids do not allow this type of information to be posted at all, but it is still important information for parents to convey. Also be careful who to add in messenger. Even if it is just a LAN messenger, do not share information there.

2. Don’t Meet Online Acquaintances

Many children feel that meeting people online makes them more mature. Since kids do not fully grasp the dangers that online relationships can pose, they may plan some sort of in-person meeting. Parents should make a point of knowing about everyone their child speaks to via social networking sites, especially if there are people the family does not know personally. Children need to be made aware of the differences between online friendships and relationships that are cultivated in real life.

3. Appropriate Content

It is important to tell your children that they never need to respond to someone who attempts to talk to them online in a manner that is not respectful.  Also, keep in mind that if your kids use social networks that feature the ability to post publicly, comments that contain unsavory language or topics of conversation may harm your children’s reputations.

4. Treat Others Well

The rise of bullying on social networks has led to a whole new set of potential problems. Your children need to know that things they say on the internet can have very real effects in others’ lives. Teach them to always treat people respectfully and politely even on the internet.  f you suspect that your child is being bullied on a social network, confront him or her and begin monitoring his or her account closely.