Hi there!
I am a strong believer that having an approach to technology that is less focused on the potential dangers and more focused on the incredible learning possibilities enables. In our class I will be teaching my students how to be safe, responsible and ethical when using technology. After all, applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT is a key element of the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2016a). This is important as it fosters our ethical, responsible and safety understandings, developing ourselves as more capable and confident digital citizens.
In my Physical Education classes, I will be teaching the ICT General Capability (ACARA, 2016b) capacities through the use of social media platforms, such as Facebook and Edmodo. This investigation involves students sharing their photos from previous sports carnivals and creating their own 'page' or 'event' to promote the next sport carnival. This will involve posting photos, announcements and communicating with others through posts, comments or instant messenger. The questions for the students are centred around ethical and social protocols and practices when using Social Media, such as, is this language respectful, are these photos responsible, is it ethical to use this material, and are the privacy measures safe.
I encourage you as parents and carers to become involved in this educative process!
Around 69% of Australian internet users use social media sites and frequency of use is increasing with 26% of users accessing social media sites more than five times a day! It is important that we are safe, responsible and ethical when engaging in social media.
I am a strong believer that having an approach to technology that is less focused on the potential dangers and more focused on the incredible learning possibilities enables. In our class I will be teaching my students how to be safe, responsible and ethical when using technology. After all, applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT is a key element of the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2016a). This is important as it fosters our ethical, responsible and safety understandings, developing ourselves as more capable and confident digital citizens.
In my Physical Education classes, I will be teaching the ICT General Capability (ACARA, 2016b) capacities through the use of social media platforms, such as Facebook and Edmodo. This investigation involves students sharing their photos from previous sports carnivals and creating their own 'page' or 'event' to promote the next sport carnival. This will involve posting photos, announcements and communicating with others through posts, comments or instant messenger. The questions for the students are centred around ethical and social protocols and practices when using Social Media, such as, is this language respectful, are these photos responsible, is it ethical to use this material, and are the privacy measures safe.
I encourage you as parents and carers to become involved in this educative process!
Around 69% of Australian internet users use social media sites and frequency of use is increasing with 26% of users accessing social media sites more than five times a day! It is important that we are safe, responsible and ethical when engaging in social media.
This blog provides you, as parents or carers, with useful strategies to help you support your child in applying social and ethical protocols and practices to social media sites.
Understanding the need for basic safety rules
Does your child understand the notion of Cybersafety?
How can you approach the need for basic social media safety rules?
Cybersafety is the safe and responsible use of the internet and other connected environments. In many cases, your child may know how to navigate through cyberspace better than you do. However, if you need to approach the need for basic safety rules on social media, a mixture of multiple approaches is the common trend according to iParent.
Having a hands on approach ranked most popular (86% of parents doing this!), including helping your child out with online tasks and dealing with any online incidents together (iParent, 2016). This could involve helping your child make a Facebook or Instagram account together, so that they know the privacy aspects a little better with your help. Having rules (79%), such as length of time online, and speaking to their child (79%), for example how to stay safe on social media, ranked second in popularity (iParent, 2016). Other handy approaches are available from iParent here!
Following social protocols and guidelines when using social media
Does your child understand the reach of social media?
The Sensis Social Media Report revealed 87% of Australians access the internet daily with almost 70% of these people having some, or multiple, forms of social media accounts. 95% of these people have a Facebook account alone! Instagram (31%), LinkedIn (24%), Snapchat (22%), Twitter (19%) and Pinterest (11%) are continuing to rise in popularity. Social media has a global reach! It is important to follow social protocols and guidelines to responsibly and safely create, communicate or share information and engage with worldwide communities, as this develops your child’s understanding of the potential impact social media can have on the fabric of society. After all, your social media accounts are a representation of who you are!
Understanding the need for basic safety rules
Does your child understand the notion of Cybersafety?
How can you approach the need for basic social media safety rules?
Cybersafety is the safe and responsible use of the internet and other connected environments. In many cases, your child may know how to navigate through cyberspace better than you do. However, if you need to approach the need for basic safety rules on social media, a mixture of multiple approaches is the common trend according to iParent.
Having a hands on approach ranked most popular (86% of parents doing this!), including helping your child out with online tasks and dealing with any online incidents together (iParent, 2016). This could involve helping your child make a Facebook or Instagram account together, so that they know the privacy aspects a little better with your help. Having rules (79%), such as length of time online, and speaking to their child (79%), for example how to stay safe on social media, ranked second in popularity (iParent, 2016). Other handy approaches are available from iParent here!
Following social protocols and guidelines when using social media
Does your child understand the reach of social media?
The Sensis Social Media Report revealed 87% of Australians access the internet daily with almost 70% of these people having some, or multiple, forms of social media accounts. 95% of these people have a Facebook account alone! Instagram (31%), LinkedIn (24%), Snapchat (22%), Twitter (19%) and Pinterest (11%) are continuing to rise in popularity. Social media has a global reach! It is important to follow social protocols and guidelines to responsibly and safely create, communicate or share information and engage with worldwide communities, as this develops your child’s understanding of the potential impact social media can have on the fabric of society. After all, your social media accounts are a representation of who you are!
Understanding that anyone met exclusively online is an unknown contact
Does your child know this person?
Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat, have nifty features where you can add or follow friends as well as a chat system so you can communicate with them. It is important that your child knows stranger danger is online as well. Ensure that your child knows the people they are letting friend or follow them and the people they may be communicating with, as well as the potential dangers that can stem from unknown people. Maintain an open and healthy relationship with your child so that they feel comfortable talking to you about who they communicate with online. If any chat about meeting up is taking place, approach this seriously with caution and insist on going along.
Avoiding or exiting inappropriate online sites
Is your child aware of malware?
Does your child know how to get out of inappropriate online situations?
Inappropriate sites, such as popups, unfamiliar links and scam messages can come from anywhere on social media and could possibly lead to malware attacks. Ensuring your internet browser has its security and privacy software up to date is a good start (Here are some handy safeguards), and apps such as AdBlock can be helpful, however, also taking a hands on approach and speaking with your child is even better. It is important to discuss the risks, how to identify, the benefits of not engaging, and how to exit these sites. Helpful tips include avoiding dodgy pages on Facebook and links that look suspicious on Twitter or Snapchat, such as those that contain a lot of random letters and numbers! Maintaining that open relationship always helps as your child can feel welcome to come to you for advice before opening a suspect link.
Recognising inappropriate behaviour (cyberbullying and sexting) and reporting this to an adult
Does your child understand and are aware of the dangers of cyberbullying or sexting on social media?
What can you do if something like this is happening?
Cyberbullying is the sending or receiving of mean of threatening messages or material over the internet. Much like bullying in the playground, it can have detrimental effects on children, however with 86% of children over 13 having a mobile phone in Australia, it can often be much harder to get away from. Sexting is the sending or receiving of sexual images or messages, which can too lead to harmful situations. Fortunately, there are strategies to use if either of these are occurring, such as the Stop, Block, Report and Support approach. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg (2016) suggests not feeding the trolls by not responding is one of the best tactics. Other strategies can be found at ReachOut and for sexting queries try here. Once again, discussing these things with your child can be very beneficial in raising awareness of these issues before they could occur.
Acting responsibly by caring for their identity and others’ identities and personal information on social media
Does your child understand digital citizenship and how to protect their own and others digital footprints on social media?
Digital citizenship is when a person positively uses digital means, such as a computer or phone, to interact with others in a safe, responsible and ethical way. Digital footprints are whatever information we leave behind on the internet, such as comments on Facebook, pins on Pinterest, posts on Instagram and tweets on Twitter. They paint a picture of who we are!
We can protect these aspects of ourselves by being cyber savvy and managing what we do, say, post or like online. Protecting our digital reputation is an important value to share with our children. Further information can be found at eSafety, digitalcitizenship.nsw or here at digizen!
Acknowledging when you use digital products created by someone else, and use a simple method to cite a source found on the Internet
Do you and your child know how to acknowledge material from the internet?
It can be very tempting to use a cool picture made by someone else on your social media account, however this could be breaching copyright laws! National copyright guidelines can be found here at Smartcopying and applying the correct creative commons licensing to work you produce of use is important. Role modeling good behavior is a good approach to take when address this one.
Do you and your child know how to acknowledge material from the internet?
It can be very tempting to use a cool picture made by someone else on your social media account, however this could be breaching copyright laws! National copyright guidelines can be found here at Smartcopying and applying the correct creative commons licensing to work you produce of use is important. Role modeling good behavior is a good approach to take when address this one.
Recognising and preventing security risks associated with communication devices
How can you and your child minimise security risks?
Minimising security risks before they happen is a great approach! Creating a strong password featuring a combination of letters and numbers is awesome, and using different passwords for different social media sites is even better! Further strategies are outlined here in the Positive and responsible technology use booklet.
Age Restrictions for social networking apps
Are you and your child aware of social media age restrictions?
Most social media sites require uses to be 13 years old to join. This comply’s with the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA, 1998). A comprehensive Age Guide to Social Media can be found here at iParent!
Privacy settings and how to use parental controls
Does your child know what privacy setting are best?
Do you know how to use parental controls?
The Positive and responsible technology use booklet outlines many approaches to privacy settings and parental controls, and is a good starting point for a discussion with your child about these aspects. Try turning off settings such as location services and make sure profiles are set to private instead of public. If parental controls are necessary, try internet filtering or have a look at these programs for further options. However, keep in mind we are trying not to be over controlling here!
I hope this has provided you, as parents or carers, with useful strategies to help you support your child in applying social and ethical protocols and practices to social media sites!
Feel free to drop a nice comment or some helpful advice below! :)
Please follow Hyperlinks to resources.
Resources sited:
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2016a). Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au.
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2016b). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Key Ideas. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/information-and-communication-technology-capability/introduction/key-ideas.
Carr-Gregg, M. (2016). How do I help my child manage people being mean online?. Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner: Australian Government.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) (1998). Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule ("COPPA"). United States federal law: 15 U.S.C. 6501–6505.
iParent (2016). Parenting Online. Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner: Australian Government.
Resources sited:
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2016a). Australian Curriculum. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au.
Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2016b). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Key Ideas. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/information-and-communication-technology-capability/introduction/key-ideas.
Carr-Gregg, M. (2016). How do I help my child manage people being mean online?. Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner: Australian Government.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) (1998). Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule ("COPPA"). United States federal law: 15 U.S.C. 6501–6505.
iParent (2016). Parenting Online. Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner: Australian Government.