Miami, Florida

Social Media – Safety for children

Social Media

Socail Media and kids

By Dana Kirchoff, Director of Communications at Divine Savior Academy

 

According to Pew Research, over 80% of teenagers were active on social media in 2012. As more and more children have access to the Internet through laptops, tablets and smart phones, social media use among our youth continues to increase. Although social media can be a positive way for our children to connect with others, social media is also a source of concern for parents, guardians and teachers. Social media isn’t just interacting on networks like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Social media is defined as any place online where a person interacts with others by posting, commenting or sharing media. Social media includes personal blogs, websites, wikis, chat rooms, YouTube, and videos posted online, as well as comments posted in reaction to shared material. “Many children using the Internet don’t realize that social media includes almost everything they do online,” says DSA Technology Teacher Michael Babler. “More importantly, students don’t always understand the future effects of their social media use today.” In response to the need for social media education, students at Divine Savior Academy attend a social media seminar on the first day of school. This seminar not only informs students of the rules and the responsibilities associated with using these platforms. This list of guidelines is presented to DSA students to encourage positive experiences when using social media: Be responsible. It is every student’s responsibility to use social media in a positive way. Students are held accountable for content they post online. Remember that if you share information, you are responsible for it. Even if you did not take the picture, make the comment or write the article, you are held responsible for sharing the information. Use caution. Do not post or share the following: confidential or personal information about yourself or anyone else, passwords or login information, copyrighted items and photos or videos without permission. Consider the future. What you post online now will follow you forever. Do not post anything that you would not say or do in front of your parents, teachers, school administration or future employers. Be honest, thoughtful and respectful. Avoid obscene or crude language, sexual comments, bullying (also known as cyberbullying), material related to alcohol, drugs or illegal behavior, discussions that are harmful to the reputation of others, including your school. Accept social media invitations only from people that you know. Cyberbullying is a serious offense. Avoid it and report cases that you see to parents, teachers and administration. Use privacy settings, but remember that even with the strictest privacy settings, your information can become public. Information that you delete is stored online indefinitely. Assume that whatever you post online is public and permanent. It is important to note that most social media sites have an age restriction of 13 years old, due to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (also known as COPPA). According to COPPA, it is illegal to collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without the consent of a parent or guardian. “It is crucial to teach our children not only the dangers of social media, but also the responsible use of these platforms. I encourage parents and guardians to begin conversations with their children at home and to seek support from their educational institutions,” comments DSA Principal Ben Troge. Divine Savior Academy is a Christian academy dedicated to excellence. Located in Miami proper, DSA is the only private Christian school in Doral and serves the community with early childhood, elementary school, middle school, and high school programs. Accredited by AISF, SACS, AI, and NCPSA, Divine Savior Academy provides a college-prep curriculum that prepares students academically, athletically, socially, artistically, and spiritually in a safe and moral environment. For more information, please visit www.DivineSaviorAcademy.com or call 305-597-4545

Divine Savior Academy