Blackburn Releases Parents’ Back to School Guide
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NASHVILLE – Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a Parents’ Guide to Kids Online Safety as children go back to school in Tennessee to equip parents with the information they need to keep their children safe while online.
“Big Tech is using all of their resources to keep children scrolling because addiction is their business model,” said Senator Blackburn. “As parents we must be proactive to protect our children from the harms of social media. Children are heading back to school and my Parents’ Guide to Kids Online Safety outlines helpful safety tips to refresh families on ways to protect children from predators and harmful content on social media.”
Parents’ Guide To Kids Online Safety Tennessee Back To School 2024
KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE
When children are online, they are the product, and Big Tech is trying every method possible to keep them scrolling, clicking ads, and sharing every detail of their lives. Social media platforms put children at risk of being exposed to eating disorders, suicidal ideation, sexual exploitation, and advertisements for illegal substances. Now is the perfect time to study up on how you can keep your kids sate online.
SECURE PRIVACY SETTINGS
• When your child comes home from school, double-check account privacy settings to make sure features like ‘public profiles’ are turned off, and take the time to set up parental controls.
BEWARE OF STRANGER DANGER-ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET
• Teach them the #1 rule of internet use: never chat with or agree to meet people you don’t know.
Teach your children only to accept follow or friend requests from people they know. Mutual followers do not make them friends.
KEEP PERSONAL INFORMATION
PRIVATE
• Teach children not to include identifying information like their full name, home address, or school name in usernames or posts. View your children’s photos and videos before they post to ensure they are appropriate and do not include personal information.
EXPLAIN THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Warn your children about predators on the internet who may pose as a friend from school or another child.
• Make sure your children understand all drugs are dangerous drugs. Drugs can be laced with deadly fentanyl and dealers target children using social media.
HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S WELL-BEING
• Have conversations with your children about their well-being and monitor their social media for dangerous content. Even with the strictest privacy controls, harmful content can reach your children. Read about my bipartisan bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, which recently passed the Senate and aims to change that. Learn about the resources available through your school and the Tennessee
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
ACE BACK-TO-SCHOOL
As children head back to school in Tennessee, utilize these tips to keep your
children safe online! For more safety and prevention resources, visit the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.