CELL PHONE TIPS FOR PARENTS
Here’s advice on how parents might prevent “sexting” and other sexually motivated online activities:
Talk to children and teens about cell phone and Internet safety.
Let them know that photographs sent via cell phone or the Internet are not private.
Set behavior expectations such as what is appropriate in mobile communication.
Enforce a rule that cell phones and laptops must be left in a public area with the parents/guardian before the teen or child goes to bed. This prevents temptation to log on or chat late at night.
Internet and cell phone accounts should always be in the parents’ name.
• Parents should be in charge of all passwords and parental controls.
• Contact your cell phone provider to learn more about restrictions parents can place on cell phones.
• BEFORE YOU HIT SEND:Here are some tips teens should consider before sending photos or text messages: Don’t assume text messages will remain private – 40 percent of teens and young adults said they have shared messages that were intended to be private.
Cyberspace is forever. Once something is sent via cell phone or Internet, it exists permanently, which could cause problems when applying to a college or for a job. Parents, teachers, friends and enemies can find those photos or messages Even if a racy message or post is later deleted by the sender, it may have been passed on and posted by dozens of others.
Remember that nothing is truly anonymous
Here’s advice on how parents might prevent “sexting” and other sexually motivated online activities:
Talk to children and teens about cell phone and Internet safety.
Let them know that photographs sent via cell phone or the Internet are not private.
Set behavior expectations such as what is appropriate in mobile communication.
Enforce a rule that cell phones and laptops must be left in a public area with the parents/guardian before the teen or child goes to bed. This prevents temptation to log on or chat late at night.
Internet and cell phone accounts should always be in the parents’ name.
• Parents should be in charge of all passwords and parental controls.
• Contact your cell phone provider to learn more about restrictions parents can place on cell phones.
• BEFORE YOU HIT SEND:Here are some tips teens should consider before sending photos or text messages: Don’t assume text messages will remain private – 40 percent of teens and young adults said they have shared messages that were intended to be private.
Cyberspace is forever. Once something is sent via cell phone or Internet, it exists permanently, which could cause problems when applying to a college or for a job. Parents, teachers, friends and enemies can find those photos or messages Even if a racy message or post is later deleted by the sender, it may have been passed on and posted by dozens of others.
Remember that nothing is truly anonymous
