How Will Young People Deal With 5000 Baby Photos on Facebook?

Dr Tama Leaver @tamaleaver /t.leaver@curtin.edu.au

www.tamaleaver.net Department of Internet Studies

Curtin University

Be aware of the privacy settings on any social media platforms you use.Use these to ensure you’re only sharing photos of your kids with REAL friends (not all Facebook “friends”).

Decide what you’re comfortable with other people sharing about your kids. TELL PEOPLE (in advance if possible) what your limits are, and ask them to respect your decision.

At the appropriate ages, discuss and model social media use with your kids. Demonstrate and discuss, don’t dictate (whenever possible).

DON’T fall into the trap of thinking your kids are DIGITAL NATIVES (and you might not be) - everyone has to learn what they’re doing, so learn together as long as possible.

Be open to negotiation about what you share about your kids. One day, they may ask you to delete 5000 baby photos. This may be a perfectly reasonable request.

Lastly, remember that real names have real value. Encourage your kids to use partial names or pseudonyms whenever possible, so they can learn to fashion their own identities before these identities become an inescapable reputation.

Thanks for listening!

Questions & Comments ?

Tama Leaver @tamaleaver t.leaver@curtin.edu.au www.tamaleaver.net