I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for BGCA. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.
In this modern age, teens spend a huge amount of time on the Internet. I know mine do especially on their phones! This means that teens are exposed to things like online bulling, predators, and it is even possible to have their identities stolen at a young age. Teens can even have their pictures stolen, and there are cases of them being blackmailed for pictures of themselves. We see stories all the time about teens and online issues. As parents, we do all we can to teach our kids about online safety and the rules they should follow. However, as my kids get older its harder to monitor their online activity as much because new sites and apps that target younger crowds are always popping up! For an example, I just learned what SnapChat was! And trust me what I found I didn’t like!
This is why it is up to informed parents to make sure that their teens are safe online as much as possible. One excellent way to be informed is to visit the BGCA’s Cyber Safe Site. This site has a number of resources to help parents know how to be cyber smart. They have a lot of information that teaches parents how to keep their children safe online. This includes information about how to keep track of their teen’s online activity, and identify activities that can be dangerous. The recourses also tell parents how to avoid having their teens post personal information, what activities can lead to them meeting online predators and bullies, and what sites are bad for teens. It also includes information on how to talk to your teens about proper cyber security. This is exceptionally important, because properly informed teens will know how to protect themselves online.
The Boys and Girls Club’s website also has a quiz that parents can take about online security. This quiz helps parents see if they know enough about cyber security, and helps to identify what they need to learn more about. The website also has new feature that allows you to post your own questions about online cyber security. The CyberTribe of expert teens can help you to answer any questions you have about your teen’s individual habits. This website is managed through a partnership with Sprint, and it is regularly updated with the newest information about online security. So, make to check it out and Ask the CyberTribe your questions today! (Everyone who submits a question is entered for a chance to win an iPad mini and $500 to the Boys & Girls Club of your choice!)
Such a great initiative! It’s so important to keep our teens safe online!