The ABCs of Facebook

Parents UnitedNovember 10,2009

21st Century Locker

Staying Connected

2012 Mindset

• GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available

• WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling

• IBM has never made typewriters• Caller ID has always been available on phones

Beloit College Mindset Listhttp://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2012.php

2010 College Freshmen“These students will hardly recognize the availability of telephones in their rooms since they have seldom utilized landlines during their adolescence. They will continue to live on their cell phones and communicate via texting. Roommates, few of whom have ever shared a bedroom, have already checked out each other on Facebook where they have shared their most personal thoughts with the whole world. “

Good vs. Evil?

Intruding?

Social networking sites are now a big part of a teen’s day:

• 51% check the sites more than once a day

• 22% check more than 10 times a day

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Parents have a lot to learn about their children’s social networking behaviors:

• Just 4% say their children check social networking sites more than 10 times a day (22% of teens do)

• 23% of parents say their children check more than once a day (51% do)

• 12% of teens with Facebook or MySpace pages admit their parents don’t even know about the account

• Just 16% of parents think their child has shared information they would not normally share with the public (28% have)

The Other Perspective

• Don’t panic• Become informed• Provide guidance

The Good News

% of teens who have done this onlineTeensN=760-763

Join an online community or a 'group' on Facebook or MySpace in support of a cause

54%

Post creative writing or artwork that you've done 53%Post or share videos or music that you’ve created 50%Organize or invite people to an event using a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace

45%

Volunteer for a campaign, non-profit organization, or charity

34%

Participate in online study groups 26%

And parents and children agree, the internet is helping their academic performance:

• 75% of parents say the internet helps their child’s academic performance in school and just 5% say it hurts

• Similarly, 67% of teens say the internet helps their academic performance in school, while only 11% say it hurts

What can Parents Do?

• Go online. Create your own account.• Set ground rules for appropriate

use/expectations• Privacy settings• Golden Rule

Friendly Advice1. Limit online time. 2. Educate your teens about Internet realities 3. Never share your password or ask for the password

from a friend4. Never pose as someone you are not 5. Request to be your child’s “friend”6. Do not “friend” your children’s friends7. Do not fill your child’s wall with comments8. Choose your “battles”

Creating an Accounthttp://www.facebook.com

Settings

Privacy

Privacy/Profile

Privacy/Search

Privacy/News Feed & Wall

Privacy/Applications

Friends

Thank you!

Happy Facebooking!