Social Networking Websites

How can I make it safer?

Important discussions to have…

  • Adolescents can appear very mature and ready to take on the world; however, adolescent brains are still developing and they do not have the capacity to properly deal with all situations.
  • Monitor students' increasing independence. Even though adolescents may appear as though they can handle certain situations, they actually require and unconsciously seek adult guidance and supervision.
  • Explain to students where it is appropriate for them to have privacy: confiding in close friends face to face, writing in a paper journal, being in their bedroom, etc. Reinforce that there is no privacy on the Internet, emphasizing the public nature of the Internet.
  • Teach students that once pictures or information are sent over the Internet, control over what happens to them is lost. Tell them to be mindful of what they send.
  • Teach students that it is illegal for people to manufacture, possess or distribute naked or sexually explicit pictures of children under 18 years of age. Explain that they need to tell a safe adult if they are presented with this situation.
  • Teach students that it is illegal for adults to offer them gifts or money in exchange for sexual activity.
  • Discuss with students the concept of dignity and self-respect and how it can be preserved or destroyed by messages sent online and offline.
  • Discuss with students the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
  • Explain to students that they should never meet someone in person that they first met online without a parent or guardian.
  • Discuss with students high-risk behaviour both online and offline and create 'what if' scenarios together to help them recognize dangerous situations and practice responses.
  • Encourage open communication and be aware of students' sensitivity to social judgment. They may be hesitant to share personal experiences.
  • Suggest to students that they review Respect Yourself, a website designed to teach teens about the risks they face when sending pictures or videos by email, Instant Messaging (IM) or by posting them online. This site guides teens through the risks and provides them with safety strategies to help keep them safe.