How to Evaluate Preteen Chat Sites
Online networking sites are part of the mainstream for the wired generation. There are now networking sites for specifically preteens. As with all Internet and other forms of media, it's a good idea to evaluate your preteen's destinations and behaviors.
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Instructions
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Understand the basics of social networking. Facebook and MySpace are two of the most popular networks for high school and college students.
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Log on yourself after getting the lowdown from an older teen. Set up an account that you can delete later on a networking site designed for an older age group first. This shows you exactly what you want to avoid in a preteen site for your child.
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Cruise around preteen online sites. Form opinions and questions.
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Read the policies from online preteen sites. Look for those with built-in controls, called filters, that prevent online bullying, screen out predator-style inquiries, disallow the sharing of phone numbers and even limit chatting to a set of predetermined phrases.
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Check the reputation of the online preteen site through various sources. Online watchdog groups post reviews and articles, and there are also several non-profit organizations dedicated to Internet safety for children.
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Ask your child to tour a site with you right there, after you've determined it's okay. Watch how he or she interacts. This is the time to talk about Internet safety and why you feel this one meets your standards.
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Tips & Warnings
Popular preteen online networking sites are Club Penguin, Webkinz, Millsberry and Whyville.
This is the perfect age to ingrain basic Internet safety skills. Seize the teaching moment. Talk to your preteen about why the safety features are good ones.
You can purchase software that blocks certain sites.
Set time limits.
Inform yourself on Internet safety in general. Share the information in small doses with your preteen. Start with the cardinal rule of never sharing personal information online. Ever.
Users of networking sites often get so involved in clicking from one network to another that they lose total track of time. Watch how much your preteen is online. This is a great time to instill a sense of time limits on such activities.
