How To Keep Your Kids Safe On Facebook

Facebook and safety are always a concern for parents. We have all read or heard the horror stories of pedophiles targeting our children with their Facebook pages. Inappropriate photos, posts are always being talked about in the parents circle. Wondering if your child is posting private information online where anyone can read it is a huge concern.

As a parent you do have a means to assist your child in protecting themselves on Facebook or Myspace. You want to be able to know what they are posting. One of the best ways to know what your child is doing online is to talk to them. Let them know your concerns. Sit down with them at the computer and go over the privacy settings on their Facebook account. This way you know that you have done your part to keep them safe.

Another method is requesting their friendship. The biggest mistake that you can make here is to just do this blindly. As a parent you should let them know that you are requesting their friendship and expect it to be accepted. The thing to keep in mind here is that you have to prepare yourself for their posts. As you read your child's wall you will see somethings that you might not want to. Remember that these are read by everyone else. So responding to them in a way that might otherwise be demeaning or embarrassing can and will cause a war in your home.

If you are dealing with a teenager you must respect their privacy to a point. You still have to keep them safe. The best thing that you can do is try to let them know that they are young and they should enjoy being young as long as possible. Do not go out posting things that they do not want everyone in their family to hear. As adults this goes for us also. How many times have you read something from another adult that should just be kept behind closed doors? More than you can count, I'm sure.

Remember safety online is going to be a huge concern.  Just do not keep technology from your children because you are scared.  If you do not know a lot about Facebook then set up your own account.  Go over the privacy setting, learn the ins and outs.  This way when you sit down with your teen, they will be more at ease because you might just be speaking the same language.  Learn the little abbreviations or emoticons.  This way you will have an idea what they are reading and posting online.