Parent HacksHow to Manage Your Child's Digital Life

Presentation GoalsParents come away with:

○ Practical ways for keeping their child & laptop safe & laptop ○ Clear understanding of adolescent online behavior○ Clear understanding of the importance of relationships and clear

communication ○ Provide a shoulder to cry on (teenage years are not easy)

How has technology changed childhood?

HarassmentContinual, hurtful phone calls, email, instant messages, or text messages to someone, or posting cruel messages on bulletin boards or social-networking sites.

OutingMaking someone’s private information public by posting it on social-networking sites, blogs or forwarding private photos to other people.

GossipPosting or passing along rumors about someone.

ImpersonationPretending to be someone else on social-networking sites or apps in order to post messages that can make him or her look bad.

FlamingFighting online using sexist, racist, threatening or otherwise offensive language.

Protect yourselfBlock● Prevent cyberbullies from

contacting youReport● Tell trusted adults and your

Internet service providerRefuse ● Do not forward mean or

threatening messages or embarrassing pictures

TEENS ARE…. NEW TECHNOLOGIES networked spaces characteristics

gossiping More visibility PERSISTENCEFlirting …Less visibility

ReplicabilityJoking around They network they are

not networking

scalability

Not excited about those whohold power over them

S

Less chances to meet in the‘real world’

Profile: self-expression

Friends as intended and expected audience

Social grooming

S

They use the tech/may lack

critical thinking

ask them to teach you

As adults, what role do we play?

● We work on building positive (enough) relationship

● We monitor ● We respond to problems

Positive (enough) relationship

Keep the communication open and be approachable, in spite of the challenges

Positive (enough) relationship

● Other trusted adults?● Real life socialization ● Friendship values● Talk about being Upstanders

● Set limits, expectations and consequences

Ongoing monitoringWhere and how to have important conversations?

● If it’s important, let them know in advance

● Have something to do while conversing

● Types of questions about online activity

·

Ongoing monitoringNotice changes in behavior and respectfully communicate your observation (it may help your children share a concern or more serious issue)

Responding to problems

Hyde/control your anxiety/anger

Group dynamics - research

Moral Disengagement and Bystanders Reasons for Not Responding

Cognitive restructuringBullying is just a normal part of life 60% yes

Bullying is a criminal offence 60% no

It’s ok to join in if someone you don’t like is being bullyied 29% yes

Sometimes it’s ok to bully others 33% yes

Minimizing Agency

Adults at school should be responsible for protecting kids from bullies 51% yes

When I see another kid getting bullied, there is nothing I can do to stop it 46% yes

It’s my responsibility to intervene or do something when I see bullying 35% yes

Distortion of negative consequencesBullying gets kids to understand what is important to the group 33% yes

Getting bullyied makes people tougher 44% yes

Some kids need to be picked on just to teach them a lesson 52% yes

Dehumanizing of the victimKids get bullied because they are different 87% yes

Some kids get bullied because they deserve it 79% yes

Most kids who get bullied bring it on themselves 56% yes

Navigating Student Devices

Mackeeper

● https://www.macexpertguide.com/mackeeper-scam-2015/

Navigating a “Free Site”

Parental Controls

Parental Controls● Establish limits● Continually dialog with your child

– Ask your child to show you what sites they like– Come to an agreement on what they will have on their

laptop and what they will use it for● Do periodic checks of the History, Bookmarks, etc.● Keep computer in high traffic area● Know what each browser looks like

Do I know each browser? - Safari

Private Browser

Regular Browser

Do I know each browser? - Firefox

Private Browser

Regular Browser

Do I know each browser? - Chrome

Private Browser

Regular Browser

What Are The Legal Ramifications?Parents are responsible for their child’s computer use

● Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act● US Parental Liability Basics● The Legal Issues of Torrenting

Questions To Consider● Does my child have a VPN? Why?● Is my child using torrents? Am I comfortable with this?● Is my child streaming content on their laptop? Am I comfortable with

this?● Does my child have admin rights on their devices? Why?● Do I have admin rights on their devices? Why or why not?● Am I concerned aoubt what is in the browser history? Why?

ResourcesCyberbullying Parenting Resources

There is a soul behind that screen - Video

http://digitalyou.att.com/parents-and-caregivers/

● Compare Tracking Software● 13 Tips for Monitoring Kids’ Social Media● How to Spy on Your Child Online● 7 Ways to Monitor Your Kid's Phone, Tablet and Laptop● Should parents spy on their childrens emails and texts● How to monitor anyone’s computer: MAC OSX settings easily allow anyone to look and spy on all activity