TECHNOLOGY AND YOUR TEEN
Another potential risk is the world of technology. Technology, (particularly the Internet) can be fun and educational, but as with most innovations, teens can be affected negatively by some aspects of these otherwise great resources.
There are many sites on the Internet that are not appropriate for kids–sites that feature pornography, advocate violence, promote racism and hatred, provide bomb-making recipes, and much more. Furthermore, chat rooms and other forms of online communication can be particularly dangerous for a child or teen. While most often it is simply communication between friends, child predators are out there, and today’s teens must be reminded of this.
There are several ways you can help your teenager make good decisions when it comes to technology. It is important to “get to know” the Internet. If the Web is foreign to you, it will be difficult to set boundaries for your teens. The following are some tips for managing your child’s Internet access:
• Keep the computer in a public area, not hidden away in a corner or bedroom.
• Talk to your teens about their online habits and be engaged and interested.
• If necessary, you can restrict your teens’ access to certain sites until they have reached an appropriate age.
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