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Social Media Safety. Manchester Township Middle School Guidance Department 2014-2015. Kik Safety.
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Social Media Safety Manchester Township Middle School Guidance Department 2014-2015
Kik Safety • Kik is an instant messaging app that is similar to texting but users have multiple options of talking with individuals, with groups and within a social networking environment. Users can also use Kik to send photos and files and send greeting cards. It combines texting with a social network. • Users are supposed to be age 13 or older. This is because it is not compliant with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) requirements of specific features for a website designed for children, meaning those 12 and under. Kik itself states, "Children under the age of 13 are prohibited from having a Kik account by the Kik Terms of Service." The site has no age verification. • Because of the above, Kik does not have parental controls. • What if your kid is on Kik and you want them off? Parents of kids who are under age 13 who have a Kik account must submit a deactivation request to Kik via emailing with the subject line 'Parent Inquiry'. Kik then sends the parent a deactivation request form, which can be returned to Kik for processing.
Ask.fm Safety • Ask.fm is a social networking platform where users create profiles with pictures and information about themselves. • Other users ask questions, but he/she does not have to be member. • Many questions are sexual which can result in an online relationship or exchange of pictures.
Ask.fm cont. • Users must be 13 to join the site. • Inappropriate questions and/or users can be reported or blocked. • Please check your child’s Ask.fm account and help him/her select the appropriate safety settings so your child limits who they answer questions from, including anonymous users.
Instagram Safety • Instagram is a free, photo sharing mobile application. Instagram allows you to apply filters and effects to photos you've taken on your mobile device and then share them with others. Other users can then comment on and like shared photos. • Why is it so popular? Instagram makes it easy to apply effects to photos and then share them with others. • Age Requirements: To have an account, users must be 13 years old or older by registering an email address and selecting a username. Children under 13 are not allowed to have Instagram accounts. • Parents, there is nothing preventing children under 13 from opening accounts on their own.
Privacy: When an Instagram account is first created, everything is public. That means that anyone can view photos your child posts and "follow" your child's account and updates. To limit who can see your photos to just those who follow you, make your account private by turning the "Photos are private" switch ON. Once private, anyone who wants to see your photos on Instagram will need to send a "follow request", which you can then either approve or deny. Geotagging lets people know where and when you took a photo or video. In Instagram, you take a photo and add it to your Photo Map, anyone can see where the photo was taken. If you are a private user, only approved followers will be able to see where the photo was taken. For places that can compromise your privacy and safety, like your home or places you frequent, you might want to consider removing the location information from your photos. If you'd like to prevent someone from seeing your photos on Instagram, you can block them from viewing your photos or searching for your Instagram account. Instragram
Addressing Online Concerns with your Child • Honesty & open communication about online issues, safety and encounters. • Ask questions such as: Have you experienced cyber bullying? Have you received sexual advances? If you sense your child is not comfortable speaking to you about online issues, please recruit a friend or family member who can help.
When to Get Help • If your child’s behavior changes at home or school, you should talk to them. • If you notice disinterest in their normal activities or their sleep and eating patterns are impacted. • If you notice your child is no longer friends with the same group or becomes withdrawn.
Internet Safety Resources • School Counselor • Private counselor or psychologist • Federal Government site: StopBullying.gov • National Crime Prevention Council, www.Ncpc.org