Are parents guilty of oversharing their children's lives via social media? Patricia Carswell reports
The reason for our carelessness may be that in talking about our children, we are simply doing what we have always done, albeit in a different format. As Naeema Jiwani, a licensed child development psychologist and consultant at the Human Relations Institute in Dubai, says: "In the past, parents would carry around pictures of their children in their wallets or purses and show them off to anyone and everyone. Today the mode has changed, but the essence very much remains the same. Today it's on their phones, their Facebook profile pages or other social networking sites, but the aim is to share with their friends and -family."
Tony Neale's top tips for safe social networking
Consider your child’s feelings and be certain that they would be comfortable with you sharing pictures of them with your network. What goes online stays online so never say anything or publish pictures that might later cause you or your child embarrassment.
Be wary of publishing any identifying information about your child, either in your profile or in your posts – such as phone numbers, pictures of their school, their address or birthday. Giving away too much personal information may open your children up to risks including bullying and scams.
Have an open dialogue with your children about the issues surrounding being online and the way both adults and children can protect themselves.
Learn how to use each social networking site properly and use the privacy features to restrict strangers’ access to your profile. Be guarded about who you let join your network.
