Communicating Online: Social Networking and Best Practices

Welcome to Communicating Online: Social Networking and Best Practices! I am here to provide resources on how to effectively, safely, and securely use social media (primarially Facebook). Below are some resources that you might find useful.


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Resource #1



Title: Social Networking: OnGuard Online


Source: http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/social-networking-sites.aspx


Brief Description: This is a nice introduction to Social Networking for parents. It shares tips with parents, as to what parents should know about their children being on social networking sites.


Review:  This resource shares tips on using social networking safely. Tips share information on explaining social networking to children, and things parents should talk to their kids about.


Key Benefits:  This resource gives a parent a few things to look at and keep in mind, in regards to their children's use of social networking.
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Resource #2


Title: Saftey tips for teens and tweens (social networking)


Source: http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/safety-tips-tweens-teens.aspx


Brief Description: Here is a guide for tweens and teens on using social networks.


Review: This explains some tips to keep tweens and teens safe and secure while online. It talks about a wide variety of topics.


Key Points: This is a very good base resource for knowing how to safely use social networking.


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Resource #3

Title: McGruff’s Internet Safety Pledge


Brief Description: This is a pledge for children to sign saying that they will stay safe online. 

Review: This printable pledge is designed to teach children to stay safe online. The pledge outlines what kids need to do to stay safe while using social media. 

Key Points: This is great for little kids who might be new to the internet.


1) Never give out your name, address phone, phone number, school name, or any adult's credit card number to anyone online.

2) Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with anyone you meet online.

3) Never go into chat rooms unless your parents say it's okay.

4) Never open emails from someone you don't know and never go to links you don't recognize.

5) Always tell an adult if you see anything online that makes you feel uncomfortable.
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Resource #4

Title: Sending and Receiving Instant Messages (IM)


Brief Description: Here is a list of 10 safety tips for kids using IM programs, such as AIM. It also provides a chart of IM abbreviations to help parents understand IM speak. 

Review: This is a very brief and limited resource, but it does the job. The 10 tips outline security, and safety while on IM. Tips share not to give out personal information to people you do not know. Other tips talk about not downloading attachments from unknown IM addresses. 

Key Points: This is a good basic place to start when trying to use IM safely. 
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Resource #5

Title: Facebook Safety Help Center


Brief Description: This is the best Facebook resource out there, because it is a resource by Facebook. This outlines safety in a helpful FAQ format. 

Review: They divide FAQs into five sections. Each section is tailored to a certain group, including a general safety page. It gives things that people can do to ensure that everybody is safe while using Facebook. This should be a bookmark for everyone. 

Key Points: Very strong and detailed explanation of Facebook's safety recommendations. 
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Resource #6

Title: Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens


Brief Description: This is a very good government resource, about being a a safe teen using social media. 

Review: This resource gives tips on staying smart online. It tells you not to reveal everything online, be reasonable.  It also provides links to other sites.

Key Points: Good resource, in combination with other resources.

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Other Resources: