SMARTPHONES
Make discussions about the use of smartphones a habit.

• What do you use your phone for the most? Show me some of your favorite apps.
• Do you know everyone you have as a contact in your phone and on apps?
• Has anyone ever taken an embarrasing photo of you without your permission? What did you do with it?
• Have you ever talked with someone you first met online on your cell phone?
• What would you do if someone sent you a text or photo that was inappropriate?
• Do you know how to turn off GPS and turn on privacy settings for the apps you use?

SOCIAL MEDIA/ONLINE SAFETY
Ask children:

• What is your favorite website? What do you like to do there?
• Have you ever seen something online you did not want to see?
• Do you ever talk to people you do not know online?
• What do you talk about?

Ask Tweens and Teens:

• Can you show me which sites and apps you are using?
• Would you feel comfortable if I checked your accounts?
• What kinds of things do you post?
• How do you decide who to add as a friend?
• How much personal information do you share online?

Source: NetSmartz (www.netsmartz.org)

Never give out identifying or personal information - home address, school name, telephone number, age, marital status, or financial information in chat rooms or bulletin boards

Do not post photographs of your children on websites that are available to the public

Inquire about your Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) privacy policies and exercise your options for how your personal information may be used

If you are concerned about your children's online activities, talk to them. Remember, how you respond will determine whether your children confide in you the next time they encounter a problem

Never allow your children to arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they've "met" online unless they've received your permission

If you become aware of the transmission, viewing, or use of child pornography while online, immediately report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or www.cybertipline.com

Instruct your children not to click on any links that are contained in email from persons they do not know. Such links could lead to inappropriate websites

Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Someone indicating that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be a 40-year old male predator

Be careful about offers that involved personally coming to a meeting, having someone visit your house, or sending money or credit card information

Keep the computer in a family room rather than the child's bedroom

Share an email account with your children to oversee their mail, and consider joining your children when they are in private chat areas

Utilize filtering features built into the popular Internet browsers and software programs that block areas known to be inappropriate for children. You can find information about filtering programs at www.getnetwise.org/tools

Know the lingo used by teenagers in chat rooms and email correspondence

Source: "Safe Steps to Protect Florida's Children" (Attorney General of Florida)

WHAT IS IT?
Cyberbullying is the use of technology to tease, humiliate, threten, and/or harass someone. It can take place through text messaging or social media. Cyberbullies might send mean comments, post embarrassing photos, or share private information about someone to humiliate or mock them online. Even if a child is not being cyberbullied, remind them that it is everyone's job to prevent bullying and encourage them to take a stand.

SPOT IT!
A child who is being cyberbullied may:

• Avoid using the Internet
• Seem stressed when getting an email, instant message, or text
• Withdraw from family and friends
• Resist attending school and social events
• Show signs of low self-esteem like depression or fear
• Have declining grades
• Stop eating or sleeping
• In serious cases, they may consider suicide

DEAL WITH IT!
If your child is being cyberbullied, teach them to:

• Not respond
• Save the evidence
• Talk to a trusted adult
• Report it to the website or app where the cyberbullying is taking place

If your child is being cyberbullied, YOU should:

• Meet with school administrators to discuss a plan of action and their bullying policy
• Talk about the situation with the bully's parent or guardian

STAND UP TO IT!
If your child sees someone being cyberbullied, tell them to:

• Not forward embarrassing photos or messages
• Not comment on insulting or harrassing posts
• Report it to the website or app where it is occurring
• Tell a trusted adult
• Support the vicitm by being a good friend and showing the cyberbullies they won't join in

SOURCE: NetSmartz (www.netsmartz.org)