Question:

What advice would you give regarding teenagers and the big "bad" data world? How do they best protect themselves?  

Answer from Kids and Media’s Director:

Your question touches on many important issues. I would encourage you to talk with your teenager about the following topics:

• Social norms: What are acceptable limits to what one can say and do on the digital arena? Are the generally accepted rules for behaviour and etiquette different when we are communicating through the Internet and mobile phones?

 Read about netiquette

• Publication of photos and video clips of oneself and others: Which rules apply, and what guidelines should be followed?

Read good advice on pictures on the Internet

• Sharing personal information: Who can you share with, and how much you can share?

Read how to protect your private life on the Internet

• Passwords: How do you make a strong and smart password? Is it a good idea to share your password with others?
  

Read our advice about passwords

• Pornography and sexual experimentation on the Internet / mobile phone: Discuss boundaries. What is it all right to see and do online or in front of a mobile camera / webcam?
  

Read how you can get to talk with your  teenagers about porn
Read our advice about children and web cameras

• Source criticism and copyrights.
  

Read how to teach children a healthy critical sense 

The older our children get, the more important it is to give them trust and responsibility. Invite your teenager to talk to you on any subject. The things they choose to tell us is often the most important source of information about their experiences in the digital world, and is vital for our ability to guide them safely away from the bad, and towards the good.  

Related article on kidsandmedia.co.uk:

Tips for parents on safe net use