It’s not a surprise to mention that technology has changed the world in many ways. Now we spend a lot of our day connected to different devices and doing things in the digital world.
Though many people still view it as something separate from our real life, the truth is that what happens in the digital environment has a major impact in our world.
Teenagers are affected by this as much as we are, and it can be difficult to teach them the value of their privacy and the impact their words and actions can have on people.
If you’re a parent who wants your teen to understand how important digital security is in our daily life, this guide will provide some tools to start that conversation with impact, empathy, and clarity.
Digital footprint: it matters more than ever
The term digital footprint refers to all the trail of data we leave online. Not only social media posts and photos, but comments, search history and even purchases.
While it might not seem like much for people, the truth is that a digital footprint tells a story about who we are, what we like, our routine and our favorite activities.
Most importantly, it can be tracked. Every click, like and upload or download we make can be tracked and reviewed both by digital platforms and by third-party actors.
Digital footprint lasts longer than you think.
Your child must understand that even if they delete a post, someone might have already screenshotted it.
They might have saved it on their device. Same with every picture they post, people might have just saved it on their phones.
They must understand that colleges, future employers, and even scholarship committees might check their social media presence to evaluate aspects of their personality and behavior.
There’s no way around it: what you say online speaks of who you are in real life, too. A bad post or a hurtful comment might result in a missed opportunity.
It’s important to protect our right to privacy
Teens tend not to give any thought to who’s watching, especially if they’re not well-informed about online safety.
They might have their accounts open so that everyone can access their pictures and comments if they want to. That’s why learning to keep some things private is the first step to being truly safe online.
The importance of online reputation
Helping your teen understand just how much their online reputation might affect their life is essential.
Celebrities have been cancelled for old tweets, old comments and old pictures. Teens today need to think strategically before they post. It’s not about fear, it’s about them taking control.
What does reputation mean?
While some people feel their online persona is just another version of themselves that they can leave behind, we’re simply too interconnected today for that to be true.
Our username might be the only version of us in the eyes of others, so the question teens must ask themselves is: “Would I be alright with a teacher, coach, or relative seeing this?”
Consequences in real life
Teens might not understand that a joke taken out of content, or a private photo shared without consent can lead to serious consequences: school discipline, bullying, or worse.
Same thing with recording people without asking, commenting hurtful things, etc. There are cases everywhere, so presenting them with a few examples might help make this more relatable.
Tips to help your teen think before they post
This isn’t about staying off social media, or obsessively fearing what everyone else might say: it’s about being smart and self-aware in every context.
It’s about knowing that who you are online is who you are in real life, because the lines have been blurred for a long time.
Healthy digital habits are super important, so these tips might help you steer the conversation in a good direction.
1. Asking themselves questions before posting
Teach them to ask themselves a few key questions before posting, commenting, or liking things online:
- Is this respectful?
- Is it true?
- Could this hurt someone, including myself or my family?
- Would I want this seen by everyone I know in real life, like my parents, teachers, and other family members?
This simple pause helps build critical thinking, something fundamental for their development. One in six teens experiences cyberbullying, so make sure to ask them how they’re doing, or if they need something from you in that regard.
2. Set some family guidelines
Create a family digital agreement with your children, teens, or not. Include things like:
- No personal information (like address or school) should be posted. They shouldn’t post a picture of the front of their house or any landmarks that would make others guess their location.
- Thinking before commenting: Hurtful comments can have disciplinary measures in school, for example, but they can hurt their peers and encourage online bullying, which has very concerning consequences for people’s mental health.
- Discussing before sharing someone else’s content: this is very important, because it’s more common than ever to see people recording someone else without their consent, just to make a meme or a funny video.
When they help set the rules, they’re more likely to follow them, so make sure to ask them questions and don’t dismiss their concerns.
3. Review privacy settings together
Given that rules tend to change really fast in our digital world, it would be ideal if you sat down with them a few minutes each month, to review their social media settings together.
Make sure their privacy is protected, show them how to block and report harmful people and content, and help them when they’re worried about someone else’s media presence.
4. Teach the value of VPNs
Given that teens spend most of their time at school and other public places, investing in a VPN for them isn’t a bad idea if you want to protect their data.
Public Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable, and a reliable VPN will help your teen stay safe.
Many families invest in services like an VPN download so that each of their members is safe at all times, no matter the device they’re using. Take advantage of the tools that are there for your protection.
Final thoughts
Our digital world is part of our world; there’s no other way around it. It’s important that teens learn how to protect themselves, and that you keep up with the news and the terms of service to help them stay safe.
When people understand the impact of their online behavior on their lives, they can make smarter choices.
Also read:
How to Get Your Teen Off Screens and Outside
How to Stop Teen Anger When Parents Remove Devices
Image credit: Freepik
