Parents face immense challenges due to continual advancements in technology and easy access to the internet. Mobile applications, daily web surfing, online video games have become the norm within every family. The ever changing social media landscape may be one of the most challenging issues for parents.

What’s hot now can be replaced by a new social media platforms within a short couple of years. In terms of learning, the latest websites or apps can  help young kids young kids in primary school and beyond learn more efficiently while making it exciting.

No matter what kids are doing online, it’s important to revisit education regarding privacy settings on a regular basis.  Here are some points for consideration as parents navigate this topic.

Basic Rules for Kids

It is vital to set up some internet rules for your children at home. In order to keep children safe while online, examine the applications and devices which are used by each child and set up privacy tabs and parenting controls.

It is a good idea to sit with your children and teach them how to use the internet for their advantage in order to learn something new. Set up some basic rules for your children according to your household. For example, never to give passwords to anyone.  Whatever you post should not be disturbing and uncomfortable for others to watch.  And remember to get permission before giving any identifying or private information.

1. Explaining the Importance of the Privacy

No child or teen wants to be spied on, so it’s critically important to promote positive communication and explain to them why privacy concerns are so pressing. Ravenous demand for more and more content on social media puts a person under pressure to share something as well. Take time out to communicate with your kids what should and should not be shared because the world outside is watching.

Secondly, remind them to be civilized as their audience or friends might not have privacy settings. Communication about digital privacy is not a one time conversational.  Things change rapidly online and settings must also be reviewed regularly.   Kids need to understand and remember the value of staying safe in the virtual world.

2. Showing Respect

Respect and empathy are some of the basic skills every person should learn in life. While we talk about privacy settings, privacy itself is a fundamental right of each and every individual. Teach your kids to respect the privacy of others around them, including teaching them about what internet privacy truly means. It might not be feasible if they share someone’s information without their consent or post a picture without asking them. Teach your children to be careful about using anyone’s electronic device outside your home as well.

3. Using Privacy Settings

It is imperative to learn how to use the privacy settings for yourself first. This can be a challenge if you don’t even use the applications that your kids are using.  If in doubt, just “Google it” for tips and resources about a particular website or app.

While discussing this topic with younger children and teens, read the terms and conditions of a particular social media platform or app.  Do it with them and allow them to set and change their privacy settings during the conversation.   Such as:  the sharing any data, turning off location tracking or the microphone, using a strong password which cannot be copied or easily cracked.

As much as possible, stay away from public Wi-Fi to keep your connections safe. Making sure that the social media profiles of Facebook, Instagram, etc. are private so no one can excess your information.

4. Hire A Tutor

The issue of privacy setting is quite sensitive and complex. There are times when you are not able to teach your children the value of privacy effectively. In that rare scenario, it’s better to encourage teachers in their schools to have an extra session about this topic. If that is not possible, then consider hiring an online tutor who can teach kids how to use the internet safely, browsing with them to help them understand the importance of privacy settings inside their home and within in any social surroundings.

Keeping Up with a Digital World

It may seem impossible to keep up with every social media site or app that kids are using these days.  Trust between parent and child, tween or teen is the starting point to keeping lines of communication open.  Ask your kids what apps they are using. This is a good start.  Chances are they are not even on Facebook anymore.  There are so many new and exciting options online and ultimately, young kids and teens will go where their friends are going.  As mentioned, open communication to build trust and a healthy environment within your home will go a long way to aid us all in this ever evolving digital age.

Privacy and Consent

Educating kids about online privacy can also help parents transition into the difficult subject of teaching them about personal consent issues in the real world, such as physical touch and how to say no when they are uncomfortable in any situation. Bottom line, kids of all ages need to be treated as individuals who are in control of their online privacy and personal space.

It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s future. While the job market will change to accommodate new coming generations, some things will always stay the same – like the importance of networking.

Today, 88% of professionals consider networking to be crucial to a thriving career. Knowing this, you should never underestimate the power of connections. Sometimes, it’s all about the people you know.

Networking Skills

However, networking does have the potential to pamper you with benefits to reap far outside the professional realm. Professionally connecting can teach you powerful communication and other soft skills that may cushion your social life comfortably. Now is the time to begin instilling the importance of networking into your child’s growth mentality. This way, they can be comfortable enough to siege various networking opportunities productive for their future once entering college.

For example: by teaching your kids to be social now, they may be interested in non-conventional social activities, such as joining Greek life. Unbeknownst to most, Greek life can be an educationally enriching process for many. Having committees, meetings, and executive boards, members of fraternities and sororities take on many responsibilities and tasks teaching them great business.

Outside of this, Greek life organizations also give students the opportunity to improve on how they participate in teamwork, prioritize community service, and communicate. On top of that, students who were members of Greek organizations prove to be happier and more engaged once entering the workforce. In fact, 85% of Fortune 500 Executives are fraternity members.

Career Building

Whether your child plans to go to college or take up a trade, there are many ways to go about networking to connect them to future job opportunities.  Take your child to attend job and career fairs, introducing them to your colleagues needing interns and shadowers, get them a mentor, or even helping them build a LinkedIn profile once of age.

There are also public service jobs in competitive career paths. For example, first responders are high stress positions that take unique skills, such as the police, firefighters, paramedics and 911 dispatchers.  Leaning how to network with people already doing these jobs will greatly assist in the necessary research to determine what each of these careers involve before committing to the challenge.

Regardless of your approach, meeting people is a crucial value of higher education – and education overall. Prepare your children for their future of work while they’re still obtaining an education. This way, they’ll be ready for whatever the job market has to throw at them.

Here more information on ways to network below.

Social Networking

In this day and age, most of us think of social networking as what you do when you log on to your favorite social media app.  That that really has more to do with how we connect with people on social media. Most of the time, it’s for personal use. Platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn are often for business use as well.  However, the idea of social networking for various purposes has been around for as long as humans walked on this earth.

Basically, a social network in the offline world is all of the people we are connected with in the world, whether it be friends, school friends, work colleagues, and organizations we may be part of.  Even without computers, we have a network of those in our physical vicinity that we are all connected with.

As we’ve already explored in this article, if you want to find the right school, college, or job – it’s beneficial to network with people that can help you in those areas.  And the idea of leaning networking skills has more to do with personal interaction with individuals than impersonal connections on social media.

Connecting with others online can be part of teaching social networking skills, but it should not be regarded as being anywhere near as effective as expanding your social network people that you can talk to on the phone or meet with in person.

The American Optometric Association reveals that every one child amongst four children suffers from vision problems which go unattended for a long period of time. This is an alarming figure, because eyes are one of the most crucial organs for effective growth and development of any individual.

Good vision not just provides a seamless learning experience, but it also aids in a good quality of life and boosts an individual’s self-confidence. So, it is very essential for parents to ensure healthy vision in their children by encouraging healthy behavioral habits.

Early Detection

Hand in hand with educating kids about healthy habits, parents must be proactive in noticing any vision impairments that may occur.  Early detection with an annual eye exam minimizes damage and thus promote healthy eyesight for life.  

Here are some early signs which may indicate vision impairment in children.

Squinting:

If your child is squinting often, it is possible that he is suffering from near-sighted vision which is why he may be squinting his eyes to look at objects that are at a distance. Similarly, kids who squint while reading or playing with toys could be suffering from the opposite condition which is far-sightedness that may be indicative of astigmatism or hyper myopia.

Head tilt or turn:

Children who may have eye alignment issues tend to tilt or turn their heads in order alleviate the discomfort they may be feeling as a result of straining their eye muscles. This could possibly indicate issues in the eye alignment.

Sitting too close to the TV or computer screen: 

Children who sit very close to the television screen may be suffering from near-sightedness. They may not be able to see from a distance, which is why they move closer to the TV screen. In the classroom kids may be able to see the teacher from afar, but have trouble focusing on school work at their desk.

Showing sensitivity to light:

Some children tend to have excessive sensitivity to light, even when they are sitting indoors. This can be a sign of a condition called photophobia, which causes discomfort in the eyes when exposed to bright light.

Frequent Eye Rubbing, Headaches, and Nausea:

We often see kids rubbing their eyes while trying to focus on something when they are reading, looking at computer or phone screens, or when they are playing with toys. Rubbing is a sign that your child may be having problems in clear vision and demands medical supervision. Headaches and nausea are also suggestive that your child’s eyes may be strained.

Chronic redness of the eyes, itchy eyes:

When your child feels an abnormally high amount of itching or redness in the eyes, it is possible that there is some form of defect or impairment. It is best to consult the optometrist in such a situation.

Having an eye that turns in or out:

In the human body, both the eyes are usually aligned with one another. However, if you find that your child’s eyes are not in sync, it best to consult an ophthalmologist and detect the condition. When detected on time, it can be treated successfully and with ease.

Drooping Eyelid:

Ptosis is a medical condition in which the upper eyelid muscles weaken and start sagging. This leads the upper eyelids to droop and affect the vision. This condition can develop with age or be present right from birth (congenital ptosis). If you notice this condition in your child, it is best to consult a doctor at the earliest. When left untreated, it can also develop into a lazy eye (amblyopia) or astigmatism.

If you notice any of these conditions in your child, it is best advised to consult an ophthalmologist at the earliest. Eyes are one of the most precious organs of the body and hence. Therefore, it is essential that all children undergo ophthalmology examination when they are about 3 years of age, to detect any possible vision impairments that exist.

Additional Resources:

Many children are apprehensive about wearing glasses, especially for the first time.  Here are some ways you can warm them up to the idea and also give them confidence in their new look.  

Author Bio:

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center, eye care center, Fresno. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.

Kids sometimes feel insulted or frustrated when always warned by adults about the dangers of social media. They shouldn’t be. Just because someone has more life experience and education doesn’t mean they won’t make stupid mistakes on social media. Adults are not immune to a lack of social media safety.

Adult Mistakes on Social Media

The internet is full of frightening and sometimes laughable stories about adults who should know better getting in serious trouble over social media activity.

Social Media’s Impact on College Admissions

Young adults with high enough marks to apply for college will probably find that their social media history could prevent them from higher education. Admissions officers at universities and colleges commonly read a candidate’s social media profiles before deciding to accept his or her application. Some go as far as to search for candidates who have been tagged by friends to see pictures of that candidate’s behavior and online reputation.

Losing Opportunities: Scholarships and Jobs at Risk

Rude and mean behavior isn’t all that recruiters look for; some potential students have lost athletic scholarships valuing in the hundreds of thousands of dollars because they posted pictures of injuries which scared off sports recruiters. The scrutiny continues when adults apply for work. An on-line site published by Time Magazine reported that 93% of businesses check out an applicant’s tweets and posts before offering the person a job. Any behavior that reflects poorly on a company will tend to have a resume tossed to the side.

The Risks for Employed Adults

Even adults with good, solid jobs have to be careful online. People have lost their jobs because bosses saw posts critical of the business. Workers have been fired or reprimanded when bosses spotted posts that were made during work hours or found tweets where employees complained about their jobs in off-work hours.

The Illusion of Privacy Settings

Privacy settings don’t keep adults safe, either. Friends can like a post or re-tweet a few words that can easily be found by others.

Unexpected Pitfalls: The Case of Unfriending

You don’t even have to post words or pictures for social media to get into trouble. In 2015, an Australian woman had a real-life dispute with a co-worker in her office. She later went home and unfriended the co-worker. A job-place tribunal found the woman guilty of cyberbullying—all because she hit the unfriend button.

Why Adults Warn Kids About Social Media

Adults are absolutely correct when they lecture kids about being smart with social media. With more experience in dealing with life and the world, adults have a better grasp of dangers that lurk on-line. Yet all that experience and knowledge can’t prevent adults from getting into trouble with posts and tweets.

Regardless of age or education, anyone can get into trouble or be personally damaged by a simple slip on social media.

Is Your Social Media Profile the Real You?

Think back to when you made your social media profile. You typed in your age, some basic information about yourself, the music you liked, and the movies you enjoyed. This became part of the You that the world could see online anytime. And, chances are, that ‘You’ isn’t totally real.

The Truth About Facebook Profiles

Recent studies have found that most Facebook users misrepresent at least some part of their profile. One common bit of information likely to be untrue is the user’s age. Young users tend to make themselves out to be older than they really are.

The Age Factor: How Kids Bypass Facebook’s Rules

Facebook has a policy that users under the age of 13 cannot be members. An estimated 80% of kids under the age of 13 have a Facebook account, which means that all those kids have false information in their profile. In many instances, these profiles are created with parents’ permission and monitoring, allowing children to keep in touch with distant relatives and close, trusted friends. As these children get older, few change their ages back, preferring instead to be considered “older” and “more mature.” That means you could be chatting with someone you think is, say, 18, when that boy or girl could be only fifteen, if not younger.

Age Manipulation: Vanity or Danger?

Some people give themselves a younger age. This can be vanity–or a way to make a younger person feel more comfortable talking to them online. By appearing younger in a Facebook profile, little children are more likely to share plans and activities, helping make them an easy target for predators, who more than likely may have a totally fake social media profile.

Curating the Perfect Image: Exaggeration and Omission

Another way people are likely to misrepresent themselves on social media is by downplaying negative parts of their lives and exaggerating the good stuff. This is easy to understand. Many people are embarrassed to tell others when life doesn’t go their way. All of us want others to think the best of us and look at us in a good light. Posts may never present us in the real moment when we are not dressed in the latest fashion.

Choosing What to Share: The Balance of Privacy

In reality, your life is your business. Being completely honest about every little feeling you have can be wearing on both you and your friends. Imagine posting every thought, every move, every activity, and every little thing you do, from washing your face to putting on your shoes. You decide what is important enough to post.

And for adults, there is the issue of posting pictures about your kids.

The Emotional Toll of Misrepresentation

Suppose that you raved on Instagram about how well a team try-out or a date went, when in reality, you feel disappointed. Your friends might congratulate you, which could make you feel even worse when you don’t make the team.

Keeping It Real: Simplifying Your Social Media Presence

Many people make a habit of keeping their social media simple and basic. They post birthday messages and social activities that are already common knowledge. Personal information is shared only with personal, real friends. After all, what you do in your real life is the real you.

* READ our recent article on NIMBLE NUMBERS. After reading that, you might find yourself asking about how truthful the 80% number is. The question you should be asking is, “Where did that number come from?” In this case, the 80% figure came from a Consumer Report survey published on pcworld.com, both sources known for being fair and accurate.

Also, read about online summer safety tips to share with your child.