FOSI's mission:
The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization which works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes leaders in industry, government and the non-profit sectors to collaborate and innovate new solutions and policies in the field of online safety. Through research, resources, events and special projects, FOSI promotes a culture of responsibility online and encourages a sense of digital citizenship for all.As an educator and a parent, some of FOSI's statistics struck a chord:
Teen's Use of Technology
- Question: What age should your child be to create a Facebook account or other social media accounts?
- Answer: 13 years old
- Remarkably, 55% of parents whose child has a social media account allowed their child to get on when were 12 or younger.
Acknowledging Risks
- While the internet and social media can be used in so many beneficial ways, there is also a lot of risk involved for children
- An easy way to remember the risks involved is to remember the 3 C’s: Content, Contact, and Conduct
- Key points: With Content, know what your child can view or post, for Contact, know who your child can contact or who is able to contact them, with Conduct, know what behaviors can happen. Popular risks involved are cyberbullying and sexting.
Mitigating Harms
- “54% of parents with children age 14 to 17 do not limit their child’s amount of time online”
- If half of children are not being monitored online, time-wise, what can we do to mitigate the harms of free reign on the Internet?
- Common harms to your child include damage to reputation, identity theft, too much screen time, and oversharing
Reaping the Rewards
- While there are risks and harms, let’s not forgot the rewards and benefits of the Internet
- The Internet provides so many benefits for your child’s education, communication, positive reputations, life skills, and creativity
- This is supported by the fact that 78% of parents believe that technology use has a positive effect on their child’s future, career, and life skills
Tips for Parents & Guardians: 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting
TALK WITH YOUR KIDS
- Stay calm
- Talk early and often
- Be open and direct
EDUCATE YOURSELF
- Search online for anything you don't understand
- Try out the apps, games, and sites yourself
- Explore the Good Digital Parenting tips and resources
USE PARENTAL CONTROLS
- Activate the safety settings in your operating system, search engine, and games
- Use the parental controls of your children's phones, tablets, and game consoles
- Monitor your kids' use of their screen time
SET GROUND RULES AND APPLY SANCTIONS
- Agree to and sign a family safety contract
- Set time and place limits for their tech use
- Enforce sanctions when necessary
FRIEND AND FOLLOW BUT DO NOT STALK
- Friend your kids on social media
- Respect their online space and don't over do it
- Encourage your kids to create a good digital reputation
EXPLORE, SHARE, AND CELEBRATE
- Go online with your kids and explore their online worlds
- Take advantage of new ways of communicating
- Learn from them and have fun
BE A GOOD DIGITAL ROLE MODEL
- Curb your own digital habits
- Know when to unplug
- Show your kids how to collaborate and create online
Google's Applied Digital Skills Curriculum
Click here to learn more about Google's Applied Digital Skills Curriculum.
More Resources
Family Safety Contract
Seven Steps to Good Digital Parenting
Three Teachable Moments
Tips for Video Games and Mobile Apps
