Six questions to an expert on how to teach children and teenagers about the use of technology and social networks
Within the frame of the first encounter on healthy and responsible use of technology and social networks for children and teenagers organised by Sujetos en Red, the co-founder of the Institution, psychologist Cecilia Cabrera, provided some useful tips for parents.
When are children supposed to start using Facebook? And cell-phones?
The ideal age for children to start using Facebook is actually the one suggested by the social network: 13 years old. If parents authorise their kids to have an account before that age, they are authorizing them to break the rules and that is the message the kids will be receiving. In such case, children may probably demand flexibility regarding other rules, such as the age for buying alcohol. Regarding cell-phones, it would be advisable to let children use them when they start moving around by themselves, going to and returning from school, home, etc., but there are certain rules that should be set for them to understand the expected use of the device.
Which are the criteria parents should take into consideration when publishing pictures and information of their children in social networks?
Parents should carefully choose the type of pictures they upload on Facebook. And if those pictures include other children, they should have their parents` consent. Besides, it is important to avoid doing so from devices with GPS since the origin of the picture may be then tracked. They should also bear in mind that publishing pictures of their children wearing their school uniforms implies huge exposure, since all people watching those pictures will then know the institution they attend to. Therefore, it is important to set up the privacy settings in such a way that only friends can see it.
Is it right to look at your children´s cell-phone and enter to their social network accounts?
Watching their cell-phones, entering their accounts on social networks and checking their messages is not necessary nor adequate, since it would be as reading somebody´s diary. Still, it is advisable to be aware of online activities and movements of the little ones. The most important thing is to set clear rules with them on how to use the devices. All in all, it is like giving the hand to babies when they are taking their first steps; it is not advisable to provide them with a computer with Internet access or a smartphone without giving them essential recommendations before.
Which is the amount of time recommended for children and teenagers to use technology (cell-phones, computers, videogames, etc)?
The amount of time will depend on several aspects, for instance, if it is during a weekday, weekend or holiday. It is important to encourage children to combine different activities during their spare time, such as playing with friends outdoors and videogames. Parents should find the way of sharing their time with their kids when they are at home.
What sort of parental control tools do you recommend?
Internet Safety of McAfee, Norton Family and the Uruguayan platform Kidbox are some of the recommended ones. But the greatest tool is to be by their side in case they need some kind of help. They need to trust the adult enough to tell them if they need help. For example, when bullying appears, the self-confidence of the child or the support provided by parents are the only tools to fight against it. There is no software able to substitute the presence of a parent.
Which are the pros of having access to technology during childhood?
If the use of technologies and social networks is responsible and healthy the advantages are huge. There are pros when learning, communicating, when using the resources and the great quality of the materials as a support of formal education. In the entertainment field the offer is also huge, but we also need to be there watching and supervising. There are great offers which are specially designed for certain ages and there are some others which are not as good in terms of quality. That is why we always need to know what they are using and what they are playing with. There are several games and programs which have expert reviews, quality certificates and those are helpful to the task of parents and educators.
