Facebook is the hub of social activity for many teenagers.Unfortunately, just like any teen ‘hangout’ it can be a source of danger and negative influence, if not monitored. Kids want their privacy and don’t always tell their parents when they experience negative things online. Cyberbullying through facebook has become an ongoing problem with teens. Your teen could be on the receiving or giving end of this issue without you being aware. Inappropriate content sharing, viruses and sexual predators are other issues parents need to watch for on their kid’s facebook pages. So how can you monitor what is happening on their pages without standing over their shoulder when they are online or on their cell?
- Befriend their friends – This is not very subtle and may not even work, but give it a try. Send friend requests to their closest friends. If you’re friends with their friends on facebook, you’ll see the conversations they have with each other.
- Grandma – If their grandmothers are on facebook, have them send friend requests to their grandchildren. Kids easily say no to their parents, but grandparents generally are not seen as the enemy that parents are. If Grandma cares as much about your kids as you do, she’ll keep an eye out for suspicious behavior for you.
- Youth Pastor – Youth pastors love to use facebook to keep in contact with the kids in their group. Make sure your kids are facebook friends with their youth pastor or youth leaders. If you have any special concerns, share them with the youth pastor so that he can keep his eyes peeled for you.
- Be facebook friends – Why shouldn’t you be facebook friends with your kids? Some parents have simply made this a requirement in order for their kids to create a page in the first place. Of course, facebook friends still only see what is posted on the wall and not the private messaging that goes on. Kids know this and will use the private messaging to avoid public exposure.
- Keylogger Software – This is a software that records every entry that is made on your computer, that includes passwords. By using this behind the scenes software, you can capture your kids facebook passwords so that you can log on to their accounts. You can also read what they have typed in emails and instant messaging. It is ‘spyware’ that works for you, instead of against you.
- Norton Online Family – Norton is well known for its security software. It has also created software for keeping your family safe. It can monitor their social network activities, including instant messaging. It also has the capability of setting time limits for when, and how long, they spend logged onto a specific site like facebook.
- Piggyback – This is another family monitoring software that integrates with facebook. It is primarily set to function as a gaming monitor and will let you know all the games your child is actively involved in online each day. It also has a system of rewarding your child for positive behavior.
- TrueCare – This monitoring software requires the cooperation of your child. You must either be a facebook friend with your child or have your child’s login information in order for this to work. The point of the software is to collect the information for you and send you alerts only if certain words appear. It is focused mainly on the protective aspect of monitoring their activities.
- SocialShield – This is a very comprehensive program which will monitor your child’s activity on social networking sites regardless of what computer or cellular device they login from. It will notify you of potentially dangerous activity, including activity that could simply be harmful to their reputation.
- Password Holding – This may not seem very ‘clever’ but it certainly is a wise solution for parents. Simply require that you know the passwords used for their social networking accounts so that you can log into them at any time and then do so at least once a week. While you are logged onto their page, be sure and check their ‘archived messages’. They may not even realize that this option is there. You will be able to read any conversations they have had with their friends, even if they were done through the instant messaging feature.
The teenage years are critical and difficult times. In spite of their protests to the contrary, your kids still need your protection and your direction. To ignore their facebook activity is to ignore your responsibility as a parent.
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