Internet Safety Tips for Teens

Internet Safety Tips for Your Teens
As parents you know that providing guidance or sharing Internet Safety Tips for teens can be challenging at times, to say the least. Even though most teens like to exert their independence as they grow, you can still influence their online habits by informing them of your concerns for their safety and their future.

How they behave online and the footprints they leave today can come back to haunt them in later years. This is why it is so important to establish Internet safety for kids and teens.

Many teens have already experienced the consequences of bad behavior on the Internet. News stories have reported teen abductions, under-aged teen runaways traveling to meet an older person they meet online and teens being arrested for cyerbullying or sexting other teens.

Many more of these tragic stories are widely available on the Internet. When establishing good Internet safety rules take the time as parents and bookmark several of these articles then sit down and share them with your teen. Open discussion and dialog with your teen about these subjects may help to avoid future consequences. Our Internet safety rules blog contains great examples you can share with your teen.

Internet Safety Tips – Your Teens Future

Colleges and businesses alike do background checks on individuals and teens that exhibit inappropriate behavior online can be discovered by the trail they leave. This information can be left online for many years and may prevent your teen from attending their favorite college of landing that great job once this information is discovered. Informing your teen about these facts can help discourage bad behavior online. Their actions today can come back to haunt them later on in life. This Internet safety tip is important for them now and for their future.

Internet Safety Tips – Sexting

Sexting is a term used for sending sexually suggestive messages by using email, text messages, instant messaging, photos or videos mostly to illicit sexual behavior. This can be done through many electronic devices including PC’s, notebooks or cell phones. While flirting has always been a natural activity for teens the advancement in technology has added a new twist.

Sexting also leaves a trail and if shared by peers can lead to unwelcomed sexual advances from others, isolation in peer groups, bullying and possible intervention from law enforcement, schools or employers. Sexting has been used as a form of revenge by some teens and has led to violent situations. Talking to your teen about the possible outcomes that can evolve from sexting may help prevent a disastrous situation. That is why you should add this to your arsenal of Internet safety tips.

Internet Safety Tips – Cyberbulling

Cyberbullying is a term used to describe bullying by use of the Internet and unfortunately has led to teen suicide in some cases. Teens can be threatened by peers or groups of peers with acts of violence, racial hate speech, acts of bribery/ extortion and constant harassment. This can be done anonymously or by someone impersonating someone else which can add to the drama. A survey conducted at cyberbullying.us shows the following results for victims of cyberbullying:

You should discuss the issue of cyberbullying with your teen also as the psychological abuse from it can be harmful if not fatal in extreme cases. If your teen is a victim of cyberbullying they may be reluctant to discuss the issue out of fear of retribution from peers. If this is the case it would be beneficial for you to enroll the help of teachers, counselors, coaches or pastors to help open the lines of communication and aid in solving the problem.

Internet Safety Tips – Real World vs. Cyber World?

Teens can sometimes find it hard to fit in to certain groups at school and may act out in response to peer pressure just to find acceptance. By getting your teen involved in school clubs, team sports or community volunteer projects you can help promote a better atmosphere for your teen to make friends in.

Although the Internet can be a great social and educational tool it should never take the place of real world experiences for your teen. If you allow your teen to constantly stay online it could lead to isolation and withdraw from real life social activities.  Nip this in the bud before it can develop into a habit.

Establishing sound Internet safety rules and using quality safety software can further enhance your teens online experience. Internet safety software installed on your computer, iPad or iPhone can block websites you do not wish your teens to visit and send you alerts to help monitor their activities. Web based Internet safety protection services offer the same ability to block websites and send you real time alerts. This can provide added protection for parents concerned with the safety of their children online. By discussing and practicing these Internet safety tips with your teen you can help avoid the many potential pitfalls your teen may experience by having an online presence.

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