Take time to regularly share your family expectations about how to act as a good person online even when no one is watching. Discuss how and when your child can access digital content as media can replace important unplugged activities and interactions. A family media agreement can be an excellent starting point for creating your guidelines and hosting a group discussion about them. Common Sense Media and the American Academy of Pediatrics provide sample templates for these types of agreements.

Computers, smartphones, gaming systems and other technology devices your child may use outside of school  can give them the opportunity to connect to public networks and many different types of content that can influence a child’s behavior and beliefs. For these reasons and more, it is important to have an ongoing conversation with your family about internet use, access, data privacy, and what children should do if they encounter something online that makes them uncomfortable. Knowing your child’s passwords to online accounts can be included as part of your media agreement too and will allow you to access any accounts if any issues arise or there is an emergency.

When setting family technology limits, it is important to focus on the content of a child’s screen time and not just the amount of time on the clock. Encourage your child to use technology in a central location where you can check in or supervise. Teaching children how to manage distractions and a variety of information sources is a critical skill.

Creating technology free zones in your family’s residence and schedule are important to healthy development for your child. Keeping a technology device parking lot for phones, tablets and other devices in a common area of your residence each night helps discourage technology related sleep disruption. It can help you model a screen time balance in your life as well.

American Academy of Pediatrics: Tips for Parents in the Digital Age.

Two tools to help manage screen time are Google’s Family Link for Android and Apple’s Screen Time tool.

Use built-in tools for devices and media sources to set limits on what sites and shows your child will see and interact with.  Parental controls for streaming services such as Netflix can help ensure your child is viewing age-appropriate content.  Using tools on iPhones or Android phones to set boundaries on the internet can help you know what sites your child is visiting, restrict access to apps, keep tabs on who your child is communicating with, and stop them from changing settings you wish to enforce. 

Similarly, your family’s home internet service provider allows you to control many of the same elements of internet usage such as time limits, content, and hours that it’s allowed. 

Parental Controls for TDS Internet Customers

Parental Controls for Centurylink Internet Customers

Parental Controls for Charter Spectrum Internet Customers:

• Pause/Unpause WiFi Connection for Phones/Tablets
• Windows Computers: Internet Filters, Time Limits, and Time Frames allowed
• Apple Mac Computers: Internet Filters, Time Limits, and Time Frames allowed

“Cyberbullying (threatening or harassing another individual through technology), is a growing concern for children. It takes many forms, such as forwarding a private message or photo for others to see, starting a rumor, or sending a threatening or aggressive message, often anonymously. Talk with your child about not partaking in this behavior, and encourage them to report it to an adult.”

Warning signs include:

• Avoidance of cell phones or other electronic devices 
• Appearance of stress or anxiety when receiving texts, social media messages, or email
• Reluctance to attend school or social events
• Disengages from conversations about the use of social media or their electronic device 

Discuss cyberbullying with your child:

• Do you ever get upset with someone online? If so, what did you do to handle the situation?
• Have you ever received a mean or threatening message online or social media? How did you feel?
• What would you do if you knew someone who was being cyberbullied?
• Who would you talk to at school if you or someone you knew was being cyberbullied? 
• Do you know where to report cyberbullying on the apps or sites that you use? 
   

Be aware of what social networking sites your child uses, and pay particular attention to those that have age restrictions as part of their terms of service.  Many social media sites limit their users to ages 13+, for example.

1 "Digital Health & Wellness | Minnetonka Public Schools." https://www.minnetonkaschools.org/district/departments/technology/digital-health. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

2 & 3 "Cyberbullying | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction." https://dpi.wi.gov/internet-safety/cyberbullying. Accessed 8 Feb. 2022.

We all use the internet everyday, whether it is for entertainment, work, learning or communication. It is easy to take it for granted. Adults and kids alike need to be aware of how to use the internet properly and responsibly. Downloading photos, music, articles and other forms of entertainment is something that we all do without a second thought but It is important to remember that there are content creators behind all of that media. We need to remind ourselves and our kids to cite our sources to recognize and respect those creators. 

It is also important to take time to talk with your family about using the internet responsibly. It is easy for kids to see information on the internet that appeals to them. Our job is to help them understand what is useful, credible and true. Taking time to have discussions about websites students visit and the messages those sites are portraying is important to helping students develop strong problem solving and inquiry skills. It will also help students better understand how to stay safe as they navigate the internet.

Use the resources below to deepen your understanding of copyright, plagiarism and digital news and media literacy.

Copyright

When incorporating quotes, ideas, or data from other authors or when using an image, video, or song created by someone else, students must be sure that they are following all copyright laws. Any use of another’s creative work must be done with permission from the creator or must fall under the definition of “Fair Use.”

DPI's Copyright and Plagiarism Page

Common Sense Media Video

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas without giving credit to the original author. In order to avoid plagiarism, students must understand how to quote, paraphrase, and cite information from written and recorded sources. 

News and Media Literacy

Students should understand that not everything they view online is credible and that online content often has a biased viewpoint or agenda. 

When viewing any online media, students should ask themselves five essential questions.

1. Who created the message?
2. Why was the message made?
3. Who paid for this message?
4. How is this message trying to get our attention?
5. Who is represented in this message and who is missing?

Common Sense Media's "5 Essential Media Literacy Questions for Kids" Video