This presentation was prepared for a high school Parent Teacher Organization to inform parents of the social media apps and sites local teens are using in spring 2014. The presentation includes an overview of particular apps and sites, as well as their terms of service and appropriateness for teen users. Parents are also given tips about helping teens develop a good digital footprint and referred to resources that will help them make social media decisions for their own teens.

1. Social Media
An informational class
for parents
of teens and tweens.
March 18, 2014
Bradwell Institute
Hinesville, GA

2. What we’ll cover today:
 Introduction
 Overview of Laws that Affect Social Media Use
 Sites Local Teens are Using
 Your Role in Keeping Your Teen Safe
 Talking to Your Teen About Their Digital Footprint
 Resources for Keeping You & Your Teen Informed

3. CIPA & COPPA
CIPA
Children’s Internet Protection Act
COPPA
Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

4. CIPA
CIPA requires school and libraries receiving E-rate funding
for Internet access to adopt an internet safety policy that
addresses:
 Safety and Security of minors using e-mail and other forms of
direct electronic communication
 Unauthorized access or unlawful activity by minors online
 Unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of the
personal information of minors
 Measures to restrict minors’ access to material harmful to
minors
 Education for minors about appropriate online behavior

5. COPPA
Websites that collect information from children under the
age of thirteen are required to comply with the Federal
Trade Commission Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
COPPA applies to websites and
apps that are directed to
children under 13.
Most of the apps we’ll talk about
are intended for 13+ or 17+.

6. Trust Your Good Sense, Parents

7. Your Good Sense
 [insert 0:30 Family Dinner video here—or go to link]
http://youtu.be/c-66I2glzZk

8. Specific Sites Popular with Local Teens
The sites we’ll cover today are used by teens in this school. The purpose of
showing you these sites is not to scare you, but to inform you, so that you
can make the call whether these sites are appropriate for your teen.

9. Smart Phone Apps

10. Name of app
 How the app works
 Special features and additional
information
 Issues or concerns
Screenshot
or
Example

11. ask.fm
 Ask.fm users ask questions and answer
questions posted by
other—anonymous—users.
 Ask.fm users have the option of
recording themselves with a webcam to
answer a question.
 Bullying is a major concern. In 2013, ten
teen suicides were directly linked to
bullying on ask.fm.

12. Yik Yak
 Yik Yak users may send comments
anonymously.
 Those who see the comments don’t have to
have an account; they only have to be
logged on.
 Yik Yak uses location services to bring
comments to a user’s feed from other users
nearby.
 Bullying is a major concern with Yik Yak, which
has specifically been a platform for racist
bullying and violent threats at a number of
high schools and colleges.

13. Snapchat
 Snapchat has major privacy issues. Contrary to
Snapchat’s FAQs statement that “snaps disappear
after the timer runs out,” snaps can be saved via
screen capture or through a built-in retrievability
code.
 Teens don’t initially go to Snapchat to sext or
bully, they go to socialize in an online environment
that seems “safer” because they think the data they
share disappears.
 There are numerous ways to “screen capture” a
Snapchat photo. Once you send your photo
digitally, you lose control of it.
Snapchat advertises itself as an app that lets you send media
to your friends that will get deleted automatically.

14. Apps to Hide Apps
 There are a number of apps that “hide”
pictures, folders, and other apps.
 Can you tell which of these icons represents my Secret
Folder?
 Don’t be afraid to investigate what is in your teen’s
folders.
 Don’t be afraid to talk to your teen about which apps
they are using and who they connect with on them.
 And, don’t be afraid to reset or take away your teen’s
access if they are putting themselves in danger.

15. kik
 Kik Messenger is an app-based alternative to
standard texting as well as a social networking app
for smartphones.
 Kik should only be used by teens who can discern the
difference between texting people individually, with
groups, and within a social networking environment.
 This tool is for older teens and adults who will use it to
communicate with family and friends, and who will
not give out personal information to Kik users they
don't know.
 Teens will need close guidance on safety and privacy
if they're going to use it.

16. Tumblr
Search results for
#Divergent
Search results for
#Hinesville
These represent things a typical teen may
search for on Tumblr—and the results may
include things you either don’t want your teen
exposed to or that you at least want to be
aware your teen is being exposed to.

17. Privacy & Safety Strategies
for Tumblr
 Tumblr is a blog format that allows users to combine
text, videos, photos, and audio clips.
 Tumblr relies on users to identify material they upload as
NSFW (not safe for work) or innappropriate.
 If your think your mature and responsible teen is ready for
Tumblr, talk with them and monitor the content they post.
 Talk to your teen about the content they could be exposed
to on Tumblr and make clear what they should do if they
discover inappropriate content.
 If you are not comfortable with your teen using Tumblr, block
it until you think they are ready.

18. Twitter
 Twitter is a free "microblogging" and social networking
site that allows users to post 140-character messages
called “tweets.”
 Users can keep their tweets private and approve
individual followers. This is a potentially good way for
teens to “get their feet wet” in social media.
 Twitter is increasingly being used as a promotional tool
for products and celebrities so limit your teen’s
exposure to ads by keeping their Twitter circle among
real friends.
 Users can choose to post their location along with
each Tweet—not a great idea for teens.
 If your teen is ready for social media, Twitter can be
used as an education tool as well as a social
networking tool.

19. Instagram
 Instagram is a photo and video sharing
social networking service.
 If your teen is ready for Instagram, go
through the privacy settings together and
talk about what is (and is not)
appropriate to share on social media.
 Search results for graphic terms can
include graphic pictures.
 Instagram does have built in features to
report inappropriate content, but your
teen cannot “unsee” what they have
seen.

20. Facebook
 Facebook is an online social network
on which users can share status
updates, pictures, and video.
 Facebook updates its features
frequently, which can change
privacy settings—so if your teen is
ready for Facebook, regularly check
their privacy settings.
 If your teen is ready for
Facebook, check regularly to ensure
they are “Friends” with only people
they know in real life.

21. Trust Your Good Sense, Parents

22. Danger Zone
Avoid social media tools and apps that allow users to avoid
responsibility for what they post, or that promise what you post is
“anonymous” or will “disappear.”
Nothing on the Internet disappears, or is truly private.

23. Proceed with Caution
• Talk to your teen about the types of social media you are comfortable
with them trying.
• Investigate and set the privacy settings together.
• Check regularly to ensure your teen is making good decisions and is
online friends only with people they actually know.

24. Only you can give the Green Light
You know your teen best.
It is up to you to decide whether they are ready for social media at all.

25. Restricting Access

26. Your Teen’s Digital Footprint
Nothing ever truly
disappears in the digital
world, and everything you
post on social media shapes
people's impression of you.
The impression that you give
on social media and the
Internet is often called your
Digital Footprint. What
impression are you giving?
Are you happy with your
Digital Footprint? And, if you
aren't, what can you do to
change it?

27. Discovering
Your Teen’s Digital Footprint
 Use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to search your teen’s name and
username(s).
 Use a site like Spokeo or PeekYou to review what information is publicly
available about your teen.
 Review the apps your teen uses on their smartphone and the computer and
talk about what information they gave to sign up for each account.
 Look at what your teen posts, blogs, and shares on the Internet (even the
information they share “privately” can easily become public).
 Talk about how what they posts is viewed by others and how it could affect
them if it is seen by a college admissions office, military recruiter, or hiring
manager.

28. Building
Your Teen’s Digital Footprint
 Talk with your teen about how everything they do online combines to create
their Digital Footprint.
 Make your teen aware of the importance of having a Digital Footprint they
are proud of.
 Point out and share news stories and other information about positive and
negative consequences of online behavior.
 Explore online resources with your teen to discover more about the social
media tools and apps they hear about and want to use.

29. Tips to Take With You
 Get involved
 Learn about social media platforms with your teen
 Investigate the social media your teen is using
 Check and use privacy settings
 Advise your teen about what content is appropriate to
share
 Delete and block inappropriate content

30. For Further Information
Please visit our website at
http://bimediacentersocialmedia.weebly.com
To find more resources, information, and links to online tools that
will help you and your teen use social media for positive social
interaction and learning.