Online Privacy: Think Before You Post

The Internet and social networks can be a great tool for sharing school photos and information, but it can also grow dangerous if abused. Schools and experts alike warn parents and children to think before they post, in order to protect their privacy.

“In today’s world, everyone is connected, and anything can get copied, pasted and sent to thousands of people in a heartbeat—which is why it’s important for parents to help their kids learn to protect their privacy,” according to Caroline Knorr, parenting editor, with San Francisco-based Common Sense Media, a think-tank on kids and media issues. “The repercussions of a spur-of-the moment picture or post could be immediately embarrassing—or come years later, affecting college or job opportunities.”

Campbell schools have taken swift action to ensure its students and parents are aware of the dangers of posting online information that can be harmful. According to Marla Olszewski, spokeswoman, the district sent out a newsletter to parents this month highlighting the importance to “Think before you post,” encouraging students to use caution with the information they share online.

Specifically, the district highlights the need to use sites that have privacy controls and avoid posting photos of other people’s children without permission.

On Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., the school district plans to host an Internet Safety Class for all families at Monroe Middle School.

But while at school, if Campbell students hope to access the Internet for educational purposes, each parent and student must sign and agree to a district "Acceptable Network Use Agreement," which acknowledges that a student may lose his or her Internet privileges if it is used inappropriately, according to Olszewski.

Parents must also authorize their children to allow them to “independently access information through the Web, receive email communications through a class account and engage in other educationally relevant electronic communication activities,” according to the document.

Talking to your kids about privacy and the dangers lurking online might be one of the more current issues you discuss.

Here’s advice from Common Sense Media to Help Kids Protect Their Privacy:

• Explain that nothing is really private. Privacy settings aren’t infallible, so it’s up to kids to protect themselves by thinking twice before they post something that could damage their reputation or that someone else could use to embarrass or hurt them.
• Teach kids to keep personal information private.
• Make sure your kids use privacy settings on their social network pages. Encourage kids to really think about the nature of their relationships (close friends, family, acquaintances, strangers) and adjust their privacy settings accordingly.
• Remind kids to protect their friends' privacy.
• Establish a few hard-and-fast rules about posting. No nude or semi-nude photos or videos—ever. Not online, not on their phones. No pictures of doing drugs, drinking or having sex.
• Help kids think long term. Everything leaves a digital footprint. Whatever gets created may never go away. If they don’t want to see it tomorrow, they'd better not post it today.