Or they think they are. Or they really are smarter than we are, about some things. Like social media apps, and texting lingo that makes no sense to most adults.
How do we keep children safe in an era of instant sharing, when detailed information is just a few clicks away, and when we have access practically at every moment of every day? As a parent, diligence is key.
And finding good, solid resources, like this one: http://www.netsmartz.org. Affiliated with The National Center on Missing & Exploited Children, Netsmartz brings together some of the best, most current information designed to keep our children safe.
The truth is, working independently, any one of us might not be able to know enough, learn enough, defend enough to adequately protect our kids from the potential pitfalls of life in a 24/7 online world. But when we take advantage of well-researched, high quality resources, that challenge becomes a little easier.
The online world isn’t going to become friendly overnight, so we need to understand the issues and share our knowledge with one another. It might mean taking unpopular stands with our children – making them use passwords that they share with parents, for example. Allowing parents to see what they’re doing and the sites they’re visiting online. And keeping a common computer in a public space and not closed away in a bedroom.
None of these will guarantee safety. But they will convey an attitude of awareness and diligence.
The materials you’ll find online at http://www.netsmartz.org/ are one step on the path to better understanding the online issues that surround us.