CHURCHSMO

Social Networks, like MySpace and Facebook, have become as much a part of the teenage experience as High School and awkward dating experiences.  Teenagers (and adults for that matter) have flocked to social networking sites looking for another way to connect with the world around them.  These online communities can certainly be great tools.

But just like in “real life” there are dangers.  And parents need to be aware of these dangers so they can protect their children.

*Do your research!
You wouldn’t let your child take a trip without doing the proper research.  So why would you let them enter into the world of social media (or the Internet in general) without knowing what they are getting into.

*Teach!!!
Once you do the research (and that will be time consuming and take hard work), guide them in responsibly using these tools.  Let’s be honest, kids probably know more about the Internet than you do.  Your job is to teach them to represent Christ even online.  Tell them the dangers of posting certain pictures, revealing too much personal information, and connecting with strangers.

*Check In!
This part can be tricky.  Finding a balance between monitoring your child’s behavior online and giving them space can be difficult.  But you do need to be aware of what is going on.  Ask questions…lots of questions.  Hopefully, you have done the research and taught your child how to be responsible with social media and they will follow suit.

How should parents deal with social media?  What are some specific ways parents can teach their children to be Christlike in the world of social media?