Since there are a variety of apps that students are using, and each app has a different approach to communication, it is important for parents to learn about these new tools and decide if, when, and how your child will use them.
Commonsense Media (commonsensemedia.org) is a good resource. I especially recommend their Teens Q&A section. This page offers some concrete advice on some of the questions parents and schools face when teens use social media use. For example:
"How can I explain why teens shouldn't create fake profiles to tease their friends and/or peers?
Kids might be tempted to do this as a prank, without realizing the implications. But thinking through the consequences of one's online actions is an important part of digital citizenship -- and a great thing to talk to your kids about as soon as they begin to connect online, create social media profiles, or even simply text with friends. A few things to ask:
- How would you feel if someone used your name in a public forum without your permission?
- What if you found out the person you thought you were talking to was someone else?
- What if you were duped into helping someone because they impersonated a friend?
- Can you ever be sure that something you think is funny will be funny to others?
- Creating a fake profile violates companies' terms of service. Do you think that's a strong enough deterrent?
- Are you aware that a handful of states actually have laws against online impersonation? Think about the circumstances that might call for legal punishment -- for example, the fake profile triggering depression in the target."
