Popular Sites/Apps and How to Monitor them BY SAMANTHA JENSEN

Now a days students don’t just communicate at school or through phone calls, they also communicate through “Social Media”, which is where people can communicate, share, exchange, or create information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

Did You Know? Among 13- to 17-year-olds, three out of four (75%) currently have a profile on a social networking site. More than a third (34%) of teens visit their main social networking site several times a day. One in four (23%) teens is a “heavy” social media user, meaning they use at least two different types of social media every day. So now you might be wondering what are the Popular Social Media websites and apps that teens are on daily?

Popular Social Media • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

• Vine • SnapChat • Ask.fm • Kik • Omegle

Now that you have heard about the Popular Social Media let’s talk about how they work and what you need to know.

Facebook Website/App

Facebook How does it work? • Facebook is the world's most popular social networking website and app. It makes it easy for you to connect and share with your family and friends online. You can share photos, posts, videos, websites, information about yourself, etc…

What you need to know. • Facebook now allows anyone who claims to be at least 13 years old to become a registered user of the website. • Your profile is automatically open to the public, along with all your photos, posts, and so on, therefore you need to make sure your Facebook privacy settings are turned on. To learn how to turn on your privacy settings go to this website: http://www.coolmomtech.com/2013/03/5-facebook-privacy-settings-tips.php

• Make sure you limit your personal information on your profile. • If you take a picture and upload it online anyone can find out where and when your picture was taken by just one click! In order for this to not happen you must turn off your location services. To do this go to this website: http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/11712/

• VIDEO

Twitter Website/App

Twitter How does it work? • It is a microblogging website/app that allows users to post brief, 140-character messages -- called "tweets" not only can they have people follow them but they can follow other users' posts as well. This website/app also lets them post pictures. • Teens like using it to share quick updates about their lives. It's also great for keeping up with what's going on in the world -- breaking news, celebrity gossip, etc…

What you need to know. • You can set your tweets to private, however most teens set theirs to public. Talk to your kids about what they post and how a post can spread far and fast. To learn how to set your twitter as private go to this website: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Twitter-Account-Private

• On twitter when you tweet something it uploads immediately, even though you can remove tweets, your followers can still read what you wrote until it's gone. This can get kids in trouble if they say something in the heat of the moment.

Instagram App

Instagram App How Does it Work? • It is a platform that lets users take a quick picture with their phone and then edit and share photos or 15-second videos. They can either share these pictures and videos publicly or with a network of followers. They also can type a little caption to go with their picture.

• Followers can also comment and like any photo they like. Instagram also lets you apply fun filters and effects to your photos, making them look high quality and artistic.

What you need to know. • Instagram photos and videos are automatically set to public unless you change it to private. To learn how to change your Instagram to private go to this website: http://help.instagram.com/448523408565555

• If your profile is set to public anyone can see your photos or videos, if you profile is set to private only people that you approve to follow you will be able to see your photos or videos.

• Just like Facebook if you upload a picture online and do not have your Location Services adjusted your photo will be tracked. So make sure to turn that off. • The terms of service specify that users should be at least 13 years old to use this application.

SnapChat App

SnapChat App How does it work? • Snapchat is a messaging app for iPhones and Androids. It allows the user to send or receive a photo or video message for only up to 10 seconds long. You can also attach a 35 character or less text on the photo or video. Users create a username and then add friends to their friends list by searching for their username or looking through their contacts.

What you need to know. • This app’s perceived privacy makes teens feel safe sharing photos/videos of a racy or inappropriate nature, but just because they are not stored in the snapchat app, it doesn’t prevent the recipient from taking a screen shot of the photo. • Minors between the ages of 13-17 are suppose to have parent permission to have an account, and children under 13 are only permitted to access a special version called, “snapkidz”.

Ask.fm App/Website

Ask.fm How does it work? • Users create profile where other users can post questions. Questions can be posted and answered anonymously or with a user name. Users can follow each other which allows them to see the other user’s likes and answers in their newsfeeds. You do not have to follow someone to ask them a question. Questions can be sent to all users, or directly to one.

What you need to know: • The site’s anonymous features has made it easy for users to abuse the site; it has been linked to several cyberbullying cases. • The default setting allows anyone to ask a question anonymously on the profile. Changing the setting to not allow anonymous questions can help to reduce inappropriate or harassing questions. • Age restrictions are set to over 13 years old. • Ask.fm allows users to report inappropriate questions and block other users.

• All Ask.fm profiles are public.

Ask.fm • In their Terms of Service, ask.fm states – “You understand that in using the ask.fm service you may encounter content that may be deemed objectionable, obscene or in poor taste, which content may or may not be identified as having explicit language. The ask.fm service allows for anonymous content which ask.fm does not monitor. You agree to use the ask.fm service at your own risk and that ask.fm shall have no liability to you for content that you may find objectionable, obscene or in poor taste.”

Vine App

Vine How does it work? • It is a app that lets users post and watch looping six-second video clips. This is a Twitter-owned service. People usually use Vine to create and share silly videos of themselves and/or their friends and family.

What you need to know. • Vine has a lot of innocent and funny videos, but it also has a lot of inappropriate videos and there is no way to filter what videos show up on your app. • The videos you post, the accounts you follow, and the comments you make on videos are all public by default. But you can adjust your settings to protect your posts; only followers will see them, and you have to approve new followers. To learn how to change your settings to private click HERE.

KiK App

KiK How does it work? • Kik is an instant messaging app that is available on all mobile platforms and that can take the place of a texting plan. Users send messages or “kiks” using a username instead of a phone number. They can send to and receive messages from users on their Kik contact list, or set up a group chat. Individuals can be added to the Kik contact list by searching usernames or by connecting through other social media websites. Kik users can block other users.

What you need to know. • Many teens share their Kik username on other social media profiles, opening them up to the possibility of receiving unwanted or unsolicited messages. • The latest version of Kik is rated 17+ in the App store.

• Kiks can now contain photos and videos.

Omegle Website/App

Omegle How does it work? • Omegle lets you talk to complete strangers. It is an app that picks who you talk to at random and lets you have a live one on one chat with them. It is completely anonymous unless you relieve information about yourself. • Omegle now give you the option to video chat.

What you need to know. • Omegle clearly states “Do not use Omegle if you are under 13. If you are under 18, use it only with a parent/guardian’s permission.”

• Now Omegle can connect to their facebook account if they approve of it, therefore their information can be leaked.

How to Deactivate any Social Media There is a great website that shows to how to deactivate any app or website. All you have to do is type in what the app or website is called and then it gives you step by step directions. To go to this website click HERE.

Social Media Safety Tips • Don’t add people you don’t know.

• Don’t share your password with anyone. • Never give out personal information:

• Full Name • Birth Date • Home Address • Phone Number • Age, etc…

• Don’t upload any photos or comments that you don’t mind everyone seeing. (Think to yourself before you post “Would I mind if this was on the front page of the Newspaper?”) Because once you upload something online it is not yours anymore. Anything can be recorded or saved. Check out this Video that is a great example. • Always make any profile private. Therefore you have the choice to choose who see’s your profile. • If you follow these few simple tips you will be able to have a much safer and happier experience online.

What should you do with all this information? • First, it is important for you to constantly stay educated with what websites and apps your children are using. Therefore always know what websites and apps they are on, how they work, how to keep it private. • Second, check in on your children's accounts on these websites and apps. It is important to monitor what they are doing and know that it is NOT an invasion of your child’s privacy to check in.

• Finally, it is up to you to decide what websites and apps your child is allowed to be on. In my opinion as long as they use them respectfully, appropriately, and with parental guidance, social media can be a great thing.

Sources • www.kidsprivacy.wordpress.com • www.webwise.com • www.internet-safety.yoursphere.com • www.commonsensemedia.org

TEEN DEVELOPMENT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND TEEN BEHAVIOR BY: MEGAN BEISEL

ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT: FACTORS TO CONSIDER • Normal Adolescent Development:

• Struggle with sense of identity • Feeling awkward and strange about one’s self and one’s body • Focus on self, alternating between high expectations & poor selfesteem • Moodiness • Desire for independence

• Increased importance of peer relationships • Vulnerability to peer pressure

TEEN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT The brain doesn’t look like adult brain until about age 20. Research shows that adolescence is a time of great change/development for the brain. These changes with in the brain can help to explain some puzzling teen behavior.

THE BRAIN DEVELOPS BACK TO FRONT…

• The parts of the brain that develop first are those that control physical coordination, emotion and motivation. • The parts of the brain that are in charge of emotions are believed to be even more active than adults.

• The part of the brain that controls reason and impulses , the Prefrontal Cortex, develops last. • This part of the brain is responsible for planning ahead and considering potential consequences. • It’s the part of the brain that should ask… • “Is this a good idea?”

IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR

The development of the brain could explain a teens: - Preference for high excitement/low effort activities - Poor planning and judgment - More risky, impulsive behaviors

- Moodiness or highly emotional responses to situations

TEEN DEVELOPMENT & SOCIAL MEDIA

A teen’s desire to “fit in” and develop a sense of identity, combined with a brain that is prone to emotional responses can make a teen especially vulnerable to some of the pitfalls of social media. - They may engage in “high risk” or unsafe online behaviors - They may seek affirmation/support from others online

- They may post and send information/pictures without fully considering the consequences. - They may say or do things that they would not do in public; DIGITAL COURAGE.

TIPS FOR PARENTS Try to open up the lines of communication with your teen. Discuss: - How the rules of real life apply online

- The dangers/consequences of cyberbullying. - Discuss what is appropriate to share online and model the process for making such decisions. - Ask them what they have witnessed online that they were uncomfortable with. - Convey to them that you want to know when they witness or experience something distressing online. Model appropriate internet use Monitor your child’s activities. Use filtering/blocking software

Look for warning signs; are they withdrawn or obsessive with technology?

SOURCES Hinduja, S & Patchin, W. Preventing Cyberbullying: Top ten tips for Parents. Cyberbullying Research Center- www.cyberbullying.us

www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction - National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov Facts for Families No. 57: Normal Adolescent Development

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry www.teenbrain.drugfree.org/science/behavior.html