15+   — Make Time to Listen; Take Time to Talk
January, 2009 (7-12)

Make Time to Listen…Take Time to Talk about Facebook and MySpace

MySpace and Facebook rank very high in teens' favorite and most frequented websites. These popular social networking sites allow your teen to constantly be in touch and updated with the latest news on their friends and peers. These sites have created new ways to keep in touch that are more casual than email. They also have increased knowledge and awareness of events and serious issues in the world, and have given the independent music industry a whole new venue. However despite these advances, social networking sites also allow teenagers to post pictures, videos, and an unlimited amount of other information about themselves. To help your teen steer clear of trouble follow these tips provided by Parents, The Anti-Drug, a program sponsored by The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.

1. Talk to your children about the purpose of a social network and why they use it. Discuss the ways that it can be used negatively and make them aware that any information they post about themselves, their families, or their friends can be seen by anyone they befriend (Facebook) or by complete strangers (MySpace).
2. Facebook has settings that allow its users to create a limited access profile or completely block their profile from people outside of their network (friend group), and your child needs to be sure that they have these features installed.
3. Review their profile with them on a regular basis and let them know that you trust them; you just don't trust the people that could possibly be viewing their profile. If they won't let you see it than it's highly likely that it contains information that strangers or their friends shouldn't be seeing either.
4. Chatrooms are an absolute no-no. The majority of them don't contain filters, they require no proof of identification, and are the easiest way for child predators to prey on unknowing children, by becoming their new best friend and fabricating completely new identities.
5. The best place to keep your computer is in a common area of the home, such as the living room so you can monitor how often your teen uses the computer and what they are viewing.

For more information visit http://www.theantidrug.com.