​Social Networking and Video Web sites
E-mail
Cell Phones and Texting

Technology has made it easy to find helpful information on the Internet, but children can harm themselves or others through the information they get or share online. Credit card scams, identity theft, computer viruses, and pornography ads are just a few of the risks of going online. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to make yourself familiar with the dangers of these media. Talk about these dangers with your children.

SOCIAL NETWORKING AND VIDEO WEBSITES

Teach your children what it means to post photos or videos of themselves doing personal things online.

Facebook, Twitter, Meetup, and Instagram are examples of social networking websites. Facebook depends on users to post pictures and information about themselves so that others may learn more about them. Sites such as YouTube are fun and can be used to share information. These websites are meant to connect people through the Internet. Without guidelines for using them carefully, your children may be hurt by them. You should make it clear to your children that some types of pictures should not be posted online. Pictures of underage drinking parties, smoking, driving, and nudity might be okay for friends to see, but not for others, such as college admissions officials or employers.

Teach your children how to talk to others who are taking photos or videos of them

It is helpful for children to learn how talk to others that take photos or videos of them about whether or not those images will be shared. This is the best way to stop someone else from getting the photos and posting them. Since Facebook and Twitter let you post pictures and tag (identify) other people in the picture, a “friend” of your child might identify him or her even if your child does not post the photo. Also, keep in mind that photos and videos showing your children doing something illegal may be used as evidence against them. Child pornography laws in many states make it illegal for any person to send sexually explicit material to, or containing images of, minors. This is true even if the sender of the material is a minor child sending images of him- or herself to other children. The best way to make sure that this does not happen is to keep these kinds of pictures and videos off the Internet in the first place. Teach your children about what counts as an improper photo and talk about the problems that sharing it might cause.

Protect yourself and your family from becoming victims of identity theft

Many people post addresses, birth dates, gender, full names, and names of family members online. Posting this kind of personal information online is dangerous. This is because it is the same kind of information that you are asked to give on credit card, job, bank, and school applications. This means that a stranger could go onto your teenager’s Facebook page, write down the information, and commit identity theft. Talk to your children about ways to limit the information on their profiles. Here are some tips for safety:

• List only the month and day for a birthdate, not the year
• List only the town where you live, not the full street address
• Never post a mother’s maiden name (This name is used a lot as a security check for resetting passwords.)
• Do not list the name of the school that they attend
• Do not tell friends online when their family is going on vacation
• Never post a Social Security number on a social networking site
• Report identity theft

Since Internet scammers can be in another state, or even another country, it is extremely difficult to find and prosecute them. It is important to report identity theft as soon as it happens. Tell your children to tell you right away if they think someone else is using their identity. You will want to start right away to file police reports and make phone calls to banks and credit card companies. For more information about New Jersey’s Identity Theft Prevention Act and what to do if you discover that you or your child is a victim of identity theft, read the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs flyer, Identity Theft and Phishing.

Protect your children from predators

Social networking websites have privacy settings to block strangers from contacting you or even seeing your profile. Become familiar with these settings yourself. Sit with your children and set the highest level of security for their profiles. Limit who may see their profiles to people you trust. Also limit who can search for their names and who can see their pictures. Often, a request will come with a message such as, “Hey, you’re cute! Let’s be friends.” If your child doesn't know this person, teach him or her to reject or ignore the request.

Monitor computer usage

Below are some ways to monitor your children’s computer use so that you can protect them:

• Ask them to let you see what they’ve been posting online.
• Friend them on Facebook, but be aware that your children can limit what you see.
• Ask your children for their computer and Internet passwords and write them down. If your children realize that you have access to their accounts at any time, they are less likely to ignore your rules.
• Do random quick check-ups of their account. You can even allow them to look at their account as you check it.
• Place the family computer in a shared room where you are present.
• Set up specific times for your children to be on the computer.

EMAIL

Email is now a part of everyday life and is a very popular form of online communication. It is quick, easy to use, and free. You should be aware that the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires all commercial websites to get a parent’s permission for email users under the age of 13. This is why Google and Yahoo email will not allow minors under 13 to create email accounts. (Facebook also follows this law and prevents minors under 13 from creating profiles.) Encourage your children to follow this law and not lie about their age. If your children want to have email accounts, some sites, such as Yahoo mail, will let you attach their email accounts to your own. The children’s email account will still have their own distinct email addresses but, if you log into your main account, you can check what emails your children have been sending and receiving.

Common dangers of using email

Using email may cause (1) spreading of computer viruses and malware, (2) being fooled by spam email offers, and (3) giving out private information. Opening strange email can spread computer viruses and malware. Viruses prevent your computer from working properly. Malware lets people secretly access your computer to steal data, passwords, and personal information. Spam email may ask for money. Email sites already block a great deal of spam, but they cannot block it all. In general, personal email accounts have a low level of security. Since someone can hack into your email account, it is best not to send sensitive information in email. Teach your children not to open strange email messages, to block spammers, and add emails that might be spam to the spam folder. Tell your children not to give out bank account numbers, social security numbers, or personal information through email.

CELL PHONES AND TEXTING

Cell phones used to be only for making phone calls. We now use cell phones to perform many more tasks, such as text and picture messaging, listening to music, gaming, and using the Internet. Some concerns with cell phones are when children use services they think are free, but instead actually charge fees, when they practice cell phone “sexting,” and when they text while driving. Sexting means to send sexual content in the form of pictures or videos to another person by phone. In many states, a minor child may be prosecuted under child pornography law for sending sexually explicit images of him- or herself to another child. Children who are caught sexting during school hours may be suspended from school or sent to detention, and a child who is the subject of the picture or text will be embarrassed if someone forwards an explicit picture of him or her to anyone other than those expected to receive them.

Expensive fees

Cell phones can download music, games, and applications with the click of a button. These services are easy to use, but are easily abused by your children, who may not realize that charges will be added to your bill. You will be legally responsible for any of these charges. For example, every time your child wants to buy a new song, the cell phone company lets him or her just click “yes” and the cost is charged to the monthly cell phone bill. Even donations can be made with one click.

Texting or talking while driving is illegal in New Jersey

It is illegal in New Jersey to text or talk on a cell phone while driving. There is an exception for drivers who face an emergency or have reason to fear for their safety. Studies show that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk. A $400 fine would be imposed for the first offense, $600 for a second offense, and an $800 penalty would be charged for subsequent offenses. Chronic offenders would be subject to 90-day license suspension and three points on their license.

Cyber-bullying

Children can engage in cyber-bullying of others online, anytime they have access to the Internet or phone. Sadly, cyber-bullying is common in schools. It can take many forms - hateful text messages, inappropriate use of social media, and filling an email inbox with disgusting images or spam mail. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights prohibits bullying even off school grounds. Under this law, a child may face school disciplinary action if they engage in cyber-bullying. This act can be found at N.J.S.A. 18A:37-13 et seq.

It is also illegal in New Jersey to harass someone online, or at all using an electronic device. This is called cyber-harassment. It includes making threats to a person or someone’s property. Threatening to post lewd or indecent material online as a way to cause someone emotional harm or fear is also illegal. Cyber-harassment can result in criminal charges or a civil restraining order.

Educate yourself

Do not ignore the dangers of the Internet and instant communication. The best protection you can give your children is to educate yourself and let them know that you are there to help them if they have any problems.

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This information last reviewed: Jun 20, 2017