What Your Kids Really Need To Know About Digital Citizenship
Vicki Davis, a blogger for Edutopia, lays out the "9 Key Ps" of digital citizenship in her post for teachers, but the list applies to parents concerned about the issue as well...
The concept of “oversharing” by parents with pictures, posts and updates on their children’s lives is not a new discussion. Now the phenomenon has a new name: “over-sharenting ”, and according to a new poll done by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, 74% of parents say they know a parent who has shared too much information about a child on social media. 56% even said they knew someone who shared embarrassing information about a child. The pros of sharing online are that parents can use social media to discuss children’s health questions, parenting, and issues related to raising children. Nearly three-quarters of parents who took the poll said using social media makes them feel less alone. Experts say that is a good thing, especially for young parents who may live far from extended family, helping them feel connected and supported. On the flip side, 68% percent of respondents were concerned that their children's privacy could be compromised, 67% worry that someone will re-share their children's photos and 52% are concerned that their child will be embarrassed about posts when they are older. This latter concern is a consequence that parents should be cognizant of in the age of digital permanence. What might seem like a hilarious anecdote about a 2 year old now could become fodder for bullies in the future.