Given the ubiquity of technology, we tend to forget that not
too long ago, lugging smart phones along, and limitless access to wireless
internet was just the talk of the future.
At the risk of sounding old fashioned, and stick-in-the-mud, most
parents give in to their children’s relentless pleas for jumping on the
bandwagon and adopting all that technology has in store. Children growing up
with these facilities cannot imagine a world or even tracking their way to the
nearest dustbin without their smart phones glued to their hands!
A lot has changed in the years since your little princess
came in to the world. The prattling and adorable preteen you once loved and
knew, may have morphed into a creature who is filled to brimming with intricate
emotions, wanting to constantly challenge your authority, distance herself, cultivate
new relationships, and fall in to unflattering and downright perilous habits
which would make a parent cringe with worry. If your chatterbox now answers
most questions with a sullen “yes”, wants to stay locked up for most hours, and
cannot seem to stop tweeting and Instagram-ing (which kills you with curiosity),
it is imperative that you try to understand her world and her surroundings to garner
a peace of mind and protect her from everything you have sworn to keep her away
from, since the moment she was born. Here are a few things to look out for when
your baby girl becomes a young lady:
1) Sexting
Sex-ting is the buzz word that entails the exchange of
videos, photos, and messages that are sexual in nature, through smart phones
and other such devices. In a world swarming with sexual predators,
blackmailers, and hackers, this can lead to severe repercussions, such as
humiliation and emotional distress, suspension from school, and even
distribution of child pornography. Your young lady in still in the throes of
childhood and may fall prey to such events in hopes of fostering a
“relationship”, or “romance”. How
to read someone’s text messages without them knowing is a common concern
and now it is simple to do!
2) Social Media Presence
Your daughter’s social media presence can say a lot about
her surroundings and her standing. It can start with something as simple as
checking her online profiles for the latest status she updated or the selfies she
just uploaded. Young adults post
pictures online to glean support and admiration from their so-called friends,
but what they post online would help you delve deep into solving the enigma
that they are and raise suspicion if you suspect a fishy activity. As her
parent, you should be added in her friend list or following, but it is often
not the case. Even if you are not on her “friend list”, it is still possible to
check what she posts, who she chooses to share it with, the comments from her
friends, and what she is in to these days. Review the privacy settings she has
set for her posts to prevent them from falling in to wrong hands, in addition
to checking the appropriation of the content.
However, if you stay involved, keep it low profile. Your
daughter might not appreciate her parents chiming-in in her online space. While
you can see all her conversations and posts, try to abstain from joining in on
them yourself. Young adults often post inappropriate pictures and videos, even
of themselves, in order to appear “all the rage”, and hip. If you notice
something which you don’t deem safe for her, you can always talk to her in
person. This promotes open dialogue and fosters trust that you’re not trying to
pry into her personal life and embarrassing her. Spy apps have become very popular.
In addition, start by teaching your girl how to use the
internet and set guidelines to what they are and aren’t allowed to do. The
legal age for any child to set up a profile on social media and online dating
platforms, such as Facebook or Meetme.com, is 13 years old. Thus, before your
child turns 13, completely forbid the use of such sites. Cell phone spy
apps have become one of the most popular apps.
