Online Privacy for Teens

The prominence of electronic devices and online media has revolutionized how parents and children relate to one another. The access that kids and teens have to electronic devices leaves parents trying to maintain a balance between trusting teens with smartphone access and supervising their behavior to help keep them safe.

Kids and Access to Electronic Devices

Electronic devices - like TVs, video game consoles, handheld video games, tablets, laptops and smartphones - are everywhere, and kids love them. While it is tempting to keep kids busy and quiet by handing over any one of these kinds of media, parents are encouraged by child development specialists of all kinds to restrict their children’s access. Parents are left wondering about how much access kids should have to electronic devices specifically, and all types of media in general.

Even when electronic mediums are designed to help children build important cognitive and academic skills, overexposure can actually cause a great deal of harm, especially in the arena of imaginative play and social skills. Most studies completed on the subject concur that children under the age of two should not be exposed to media at all.

The following infographic touches on the 1 to 4 Rule, a guideline that specifies one additional hour of media access for every four years of a child’s development. For example, if children are four years old, it is recommended that they have no more than one hour of access to electronic devices per day. By the time a child turns eight or older, the limit can increase to no more than two hours per day, and so on.

Why Should Parents Limit Kids' Access to Media?

Because children - and adults - are so taken with electronic devices, they may resist any efforts to restrict access to media. However, there are several important reasons why parents need to make this battle a priority.

● Restricting children's access to electronics allows parents more time to pay attention to what kinds of content their children are taking in.

● One-third of the children who have access to the internet via smartphones will experience instances of cyberbullying, but only ten percent will tell a trusted adult.

● As children grow and develop into teens, they become interested more in their peers' opinions instead of what their parents have to say. Restricted access to media helps balance that tendency.

● Restricting access gives kids and teens more time to devote to school and homework, friendships, sports, and part-time work.

How Can Parents Enforce These Guidelines?

There are simple ways that parents can enforce the responsibilities required for teens to access their electronic devices.

● Create a cell phone contract that outlines expectations, responsibilities, and consequences. Meet together as a family and have all both the teens and the parents sign it.

● Post the cell phone contract prominently so that it can always be accessed and reviewed.

● Be consistent regarding the expectations and requirements set forth in the agreement.

● Install monitoring software across electronic devices and review it periodically to keep communication open.

What About Privacy?

Teaching teens how to function online is as important as any other aspect of society, like school, work, and in relationships. The fact of the matter is that there is no such thing as online privacy - once something is posted on the internet, it is forever.

Teens are not developmentally ready to consider the long-term consequences of their actions, and it is up to parents to help their kids out during this stage of life. When parents monitor their teens online, they can stay connected and discuss any dangers or problems that they see, keeping parent-child relationships open and strong.

A teen with access to a smartphone is a sign of independence and trust, but it is also a privilege that requires oversight. It is up to parents to make sure that their children are safe as they navigate the modern world.

For more information, check out the infographic below.

Privacy

The privacy settings on social media accounts are there for a reason—to prevent anyone from accessing someone’s information. Even though teens may think it is fun to share passwords and account names, they must understand that it opens up the doors for everything from harmless pranks to more serious violations of trust and boundaries. The only way for teens’ social media accounts to stay secure is to keep them completely private, allowing the privacy settings to do their job.

Permanence

Teens may view social media platforms as a way to express what they are thinking in the moment, connect instantly with friends and then move on—never gaining a full understanding of the permanence of information on the internet. Text messages, photos and more never really disappear once they are posted online. Teens should understand that they should never post anything online that they wouldn’t want everyone around them to see or read. A good rule of thumb on this is to think before every post if the content is something they would want their grandmother or their younger sibling to see. If not, don’t post it.

Bullying

Cyberbullying is a growing problem among teens that use social media, and extreme cases of bullying have contributed to teen suicide. Most teens report that they have witnessed some form of cyberbullying in the past year. In order to use social media responsibly, teens should have a clear understanding of what cyberbullying looks like and the steps they can take to get help in dealing with bullies before it’s too late. They should also know the steps to take to report any cyberbullying they witness. Recent laws enacted in many states have criminalized cyberbullying, so there are real consequences for these cruel action.

Monitoring

Part of a teenager’s understanding of the permanence of any data put out onto social media includes knowing that certain organizations use the internet as a resource. For example, law enforcement agencies often check out social media for more information and insight into illegal activities that teens document. Social media photos and texts can help law enforcement recreate timelines, prove alibis and more. Another example is a teen’s current school. The school might choose to monitor social media accounts to ensure that enrollment standards are being met. Finally, college admissions counselors have been known to gain insight, both positive and negative, into applicants by looking them up on social media. Teens should always remember that lots of organizations use Facebook to their advantage, so they should only post neutral or positive events.

Predators

A predators is anyone looking to take advantage of another. Predators use social media to identify and build “relationships” with potential victims. Whether a predator is after financial information such as PIN numbers, or wants to pursue an inappropriate relationship, teens must be informed about a predator’s tactics. With chat rooms, texting, and private social media groups, it’s very possible for teens to carry on extended, intimate conversations with strangers without parents knowing.

Teens are likely going to use social media with or without a parent’s guidance. Therefore, parents should take the time to talk with them about signification issues related to social media and help them identify ways that they can choose responsible social media use.

Tyler Clark is a freelance writer with expertise in parenting, child development and family dynamics. He urges parents everywhere to teach their teens how to use social media responsibly.