These tips and resources are provided for families by the GCPS Office of Student Discipline. 

Social Media can cause a number of issues in schools, depending on the choices students make. These issues can include: Cheating and Test Security, Cyberbullying (On/Off Campus), Promoting/ Re-cording Fights, Sexting, Child Pornography, Online and Terroristic Threats, and dangerous applications that leave your child and their information vulnerable. As parents and guardians, it is critical to stay in tune with the social media apps and games your child uses, and the dangers each platform creates for children and adults.

As a parent or guardian, here are some things you can do to keep your student safe:

Do Your Research

• • Get to know the social media sites that your kids are using.
  • Set up an account, cruise around the site, and educate yourself on what each offers and how kids are using it.
  • Be familiar with sites' age restrictions and know that kids can easily get around them.

 Communicate

• • Keep the lines of communication open with your child.
  • Having an open dialogue will make your child more likely to come to you if he is being cyberbullied, harassed online, or seeing inappropriate content online.
  • Give your child scenarios: “What would you do if…”

 Set Rules and Limits

• • Discuss what sites are approved to visit and what can be shared online – this includes photos, posts, comments, and anything else that exposes your child's identity.
  • Have access to any accounts your child has as a reminder to your child of the transparency of this virtual world.
  • Set time limits to avoid technology overload and to ensure your child does not neglect other areas of his life (like homework). Also, limit technology use to common areas of your house.
  • Say what you mean and mean what you say!

 Beware of Overshare

• • Anything that is posted on the Internet can be copied, altered, and shared without the author's knowledge or permission. This includes photos, written messages, and texts sent on smartphones.
  • Remind your child that once something goes on the Internet, it can stay there forever. This includes anything involving drugs, alcohol, nudity, and sexting.
  • Also, talk to him about how his online behavior can affect him down the line.

 Set Privacy Settings

• • Without proper privacy settings in place, millions of people have access to any photos and information your child posts. The number of people who can find information on your child's account can be staggering.
  • Set your child's privacy settings so that only trusted friends and family can see any activity. Don't allow your child's location to be posted and warn her about the safety implications that posting (or "checking in") where she is might pose.

 Be Strong! Be the Parent!

• • It takes 3-5 days for your child to believe you… 7-10 days to see and make a change.

Like social media, apps, and games also need to be closely monitored on your child and home devices; here are some apps and games to look out for to keep your child safe:

• Bumble: It's similar to the popular dating app, Tinder; however, it requires women to make the first contact. Kids have been known to use Bumble to create fake accounts and falsify their age.
• Snapchat: It's one of the most popular apps of 2018. While the app promises users can send a photo or video and it will disappear, recent features allow users to view the content for up to 24 hours and take screenshots. Snapchat also allows users to see your location.
• Kik: This app allows anyone to contact and direct message your child, sometimes anonymously. Kids sometimes use Kik to bypass traditional text messaging features. Kik gives users unlimited access to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
• LiveMe: This live-streaming video app uses geolocation to share videos so users can find out a broadcaster's exact location. Users can earn coins within the app and use them as a way to pay minors for photos and videos.
• Holla: The app's makers admit it's an "addicting" video chat app. It allows users to meet people all over the world in just seconds. Reviewers say they have been confronted with racial slurs, explicit content, and more.
• Whisper: This is an anonymous social network that promotes sharing secrets with strangers. It also reveals a user's location so people can meet up.
• Ask.fm: This app has become known for cyberbullying. The app encourages users to allow people to ask them questions anonymously.
• Calculator%: This is one of several secret apps used to hide photos, videos, files, and browser history.
• Hot or Not: This app encourages users to rate other users' profiles, with a focus on physical appearance. It also allows users to check out people in their area and chat with strangers. The goal of this app is to "hook up."

Additional Resources to use as a parent to read about the latest apps and online game reviews and dangers:

•  protectyoungeyes.com
•  www.familyeducation.com  
•  wezift.com

 Also, watch your school newsletters for resources and events to help you help your student navigate social media safely.