Just last week a few friends were talking about their kids using social media.
This post isn’t meant to tell you how to parent. Because frankly, I’m still trying to figure out how to parent my three and I’m almost thirteen years on the job.
See what I mean?
Times have changed. My Punky Brewster loving years are long gone. My mom used to send us outside and let us be gone until dinner time. There was fort building, rope swinging (and that one time I broke my arm falling off the rope swing), and playing “school.” We used to dig in mud until we were filthy but we loved it.
These days kids have DVRs, apps, everything is at the push of a finger (not even a button!). While I’m the first one in line for the latest gadget, I also fear for my kids and their safety. Things like cyber bullying didn’t exist when I was computer-less and fifteen. I got my first cel phone after I was married. I’m now combating my ten year old with the idea of getting her a cel phone almost daily!!
This all translates to a problem. One that I have a new solution to. Enter Honestly Social. Take a look at some stats and how Honestly Social can tackles some of today’s problems:
Honestly Social is a service for parents and caretakers to monitor their kids activity on Facebook. You can set the service to email you an alert if your kids use certain (inappropriate) words. Or you can use the program to make sure your kid isn’t being bullied. And then there’s everything in between. It can be used at a basic level or at a very in depth level- all up to the parent to decide.
Take a minute to visit the site and let me know what you think. Go ahead. I’ll be waiting….
I’m all for good ideas. Especially ideas that help me protect my kids. And if your kids haven’t entered the stinky, awkward (yet still loveable) stage of life…it will sneak up on you before you know it. Promise.
Christmas card picture from six years ago — and pic from a couple of weeks ago. Time flies!
Chances are- you know a human that is between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. If so, let their parents know about Honestly Social.
Use the code THIRTY for one month free! Offer valid until December 21st. So go test it out. Tell your friends. All of them. You’ll be the cool friend that knows all the up to date stuff. Come back and give me your two cents. I’ll be right here.
I’d love to hear what you do in your home – how do you protect your kids online?
*Disclaimer–This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Honestly Social. The opinions and text are all mine. I signed on because I believe in this product and am excited to share it with all of you.
I think this is a fabulous resource Mique, and even though I’ve taught my kids that they can come to us for anything – I still want the security of knowing what is going on when they are online.
I never let my girls run around and play outside where I couldn’t see them, so why would I do that when they are online ;)
This is interesting. I’m 20, I’m not a parent, but I certainly have parents who have worried about me and my online activities a lot.
Perhaps my opinion as a kid and not a parent, and I don’t want to offend anyone who chooses to monitor their children this way.
My parents never used anything like this. Ever. What they did instead was teach me, educate me, and made sure that no matter what I could trust them completely. If I had problems, I could go to my parents, and they instilled in me the confidence I needed to either report or deal with bullying and other things.
As someone who grew in both the ‘go outside and play’ childhood and the ‘ever connected childhood’, I know that bullying and all that jazz can happen anywhere..if my parents didn’t obsessively monitor me back when I was so young and went outside to play without adult supervision, exploring and going places, then they shouldn’t obsessively monitor my online world either.
Better to cultivate a very very open, non-judgemental, and loving relationship so your kids will come to you for help.
Just my two cents :)
Hi Aurooba- thanks for the comment. I’m glad you took the time to write down your thoughts and I appreciate them. I understand where you are coming from. Your parents did a great job obviously. ;)
As a parent, I hope that my kids will always feel safe to come to me. Unfortunately there are so many parents that have felt that they had open, good relationships with their kids and then found out later (sometimes after it was too late) that there were things happening. Obviously this doesn’t apply to everyone and it’s not the right fit for everyone. But I personally would rather be safe than sorry with my kids.
The other thing is- colleges and employers are using Facebook to vet potential students and employees. This could be another whole topic (and whether they should/shouldn’t be allowed to) but as a parent I would want to make sure that my kids aren’t doing inappropriate things.
There’s a fine line between not being present for your kids and knowing what they are up to and then invading their personal space. I think each mom or dad needs to figure out for themselves where that line lies. Some will think this type of service is not at all right for them and others will welcome the product.
Honestly I think each parent just needs to do what they think is right for their kids. I do things now as a mom that before I had kids, I would’ve scoffed at. Or even judged others for parenting a certain way. Also we have to adjust as the technology adjusts- which includes the way we parent.
Thanks for opening this line of communication- I value your thoughts! Have a great day.
I’ve had to protect my daughter from bullying on facebook. It is good that you have an open dialogue with your child. They know they can talk to you about anything. I’ve told her that she can unfriend people who are offensive to her.
This sounds like a fabulous resource. I’m going to check it out.
Thanks Lisa! I’m so sorry that you’ve had to protect your daughter from bullying on FB.
What a different world we live in now-a-days. I was talking to my oldest’s team at school and they said bullying now is so different than it was when we were growing up. Kids can’t escape- they have to deal with texting, Facebook, all the social media stuff. While social media can be used for good, it can also destroy. :(
Hope you like what you find at Honestly Social- I really like the people behind the company too! Best wishes.
LOVE this idea! I still have small kids not online yet but by the time they are I can only imagine it getting worse so a service like this will be a must in my household!
Thanks Becca! Those cute girlies (and little man too ;) will be big before you know it. xoxo
Wow – that is awesome. I am so excited about this. I have three teens and tweens so this perfect!!
xoxo
Thanks Jen!! Hope you like it. Mwuah!
Very cool concept. I think any parent who is not social media savvy should do something like this to help protect their children.
Thanks Amy! I agree- this could help so many parents.
Such a great resource for parents to help keep up with their kids in an ever changing social media world. There is some scary stuff out there. Thanks for sharing Miq!
Thanks Amy! I think so too. xo
Thanks, Mickey! Great share!
Thanks Dawn!