Social Media Rules Every Parent Should Be Aware of

From announcing his birth to his first day of school to his first ever Halloween costume party, you have plenty of reasons to post about your child online. While sharing photos of your little one is easy, what you share on your social media could affect your kid’s safety and relationship with you. Here are some expert advices about what should parents keep in mind before hitting ‘post’ of their next update.

1.       Consider the Feelings of Others

A simple birthday snapshot could be hurtful to kids (and parent) who were not invited in the party. Instead of sharing in the social media, email pictures directly to friends and family or create a private group or Facebook album that can only be viewed by the invited guests.

2.       Keep Rants to Yourself

Sorry to break it to you, but the internet is not the best place to blow off steam about how tough parenting days. While a cute tantrum snapshot of your little one is probably okay, too many details about your kid’s bad behaviour can be embarrassing not just for your kid but also for you as the parent. Avoid posting details that you are not comfortable saying in front of your child or having your child read in the future.

3.       Secure Your Privacy Setting

There have been so many instances wherein photos of children are taken from social media and used on pornography sites, and details posted publicly are used by predators targeting children. If you opt to upload photos of your child every once in a while, make sure to have an airtight privacy settings. Limit your audience, and make sure to check on this setting regularly. It doesn’t mean that the post is never going to be out in public, but it’s much more secure than blatantly posting it out there without filter.

4.       Get Other Parent’s Approval

Be extra cautious when posting photos of other people’s children. If you would like to post a picture of your child with his friend, ask for the approval of the child’s parents to share the photo in your social media. Many parents are quite sensitive with their child’s privacy, so make sure not to cross the line by over-sharing.

5.       Be a Good Role Model

Older kids pay attention to what older people do, including sharing information online. Think twice before posting that angry post and try to resolve issues in person. Do not get into fights with parents of your kid’s friend or classmate online. Parents should be good examples to their kids and should encourage them to use social media in a positive and productive way.

The technology, social media and the internet are all great tools for sharing and soliciting information. However, sharing everything about your children can jeopardize their privacy and safety. Keep your kids safe from ill-reputed people by being careful with what you share online.