Get advice on how to help your child create and maintain a positive online reputation.
The good news is that you and your child can create a positive online reputation that will benefit them over the years.
Teach your child how to set privacy settings on all their social networks and other sites. Ensure they understand why they need to be careful with personal information they share, and with whom.
Children should never share their passwords, even with trusted friends. Teach them how to create a strong password and tell them to change it regularly.
Make it a habit to monitor the information that’s online about your child. Keep an eye on the social network pages and other sites your child uses.
If you see inaccurate information about your child ask the person who posted it to correct or delete it. If they won’t, ask the site administrator. Act quickly as the longer it stays public the more likely it is to spread
Remind your child to respect the reputation and privacy of others when they post anything about them. Agree to remove material that upsets anyone else.
Set an example in the way you behave online, be aware of how you use social media and tell your child that you would never post anything you wouldn’t want them to see.
Your child can use their online presence to build a positive reputation for themselves, for example by writing a blog on a topic they are passionate about.
When your child stops using a social network or website, it’s a good idea to deactivate or delete their account. This will mean that the account is no longer live and shouldn’t be searchable online.
