Socializing and Communicating on the Go
Encourage your teens to think about their privacy and that of others before they share photos and videos via cell phone. It's easy to post photos and videos online without the knowledgeΓÇölet alone the OKΓÇöof the photographer or the person in the shot. It could be embarrassing and even unsafe.It's easier to be smart up front about what media they share than to do damage control later on.
Don't stand for mobile bullying.
Mobile phones can be used to bully or harass others. Talk to your kids about treating others the same way they want to be treated. The manners and ethics you've taught them apply on phones. Use good judgment with mobile social networking.
Many social networking sites have a feature that allows users to check their profiles and post comments from their phones, allowing access from anywhere. That means the filters you've installed on your home computer won't limit what kids can do on a phone. If your teens are going mobile with their profiles or blogs, talk to them about using good sense when they're social networking from their phones.
Get familiar with social mapping.
Many mobile phones now have GPS technology installed: kids with these phones can pinpoint where their friends areΓÇöand be pinpointed by their friends. Advise your kids to use these features only with friends they know in person and trust, and why not to broadcast their location to the world, 24-7.In addition, some carriers offer GPS services that let parents map their kid's location. Decide on the right options and features for your kid's phone. Both your mobile carrier and the phone itself should give you some choices for privacy settings and child safety controls. Most carriers allow parents to turn off features, like web access, texting, or downloading. Some cell phones are made especially for children. They're designed to be easy to use, and have features like limited Internet access, minute management, number privacy, and emergency buttons.