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What’s A Parent To Do?

The mobile platform is revolutionizing the way social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Foursquare, etc. are accessed by their ever growing number of users – which range from several different age groups from children to adults. There are more and more people using these networks on their mobile devices, rather than on their personal laptops or desk-tops – like in past years.

Recently, some technology news headlines have read as follows: “Why Smartphones are the future of social networking,” “Smartphones, not computers, drive most Facebook use,” “Smartphones top computers for Facebook time,” and “Smartphones beat computers for Facebookers time on site”, highlighting an evident forward-moving increase in mobile social networking.

In addition, as time goes by, there are younger users engaging with these social networks to stay in touch with friends, browse the web, and connect with certain groups or networks, and even gaming.

It used to be that households had a family computer, which made it easier for parents to monitor their children’s activities while surfing the internet. However, nowadays families may have more than one computer, and other mobile devices – personal laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

With easier access come elevated levels of exposure and usage. As the engagement of younger social networking users grows, are parents keeping up with their children’s activities? With the possession of a mobile device, there is 24-hour access to these social networking sites. Several years ago, it was frowned upon to see a minor in the possession of a personal phone. However, now it has become a common quotidian sight.

The Identity Theft Resource Center recently launched the ITRC Social Media Survey 2012 in an effort to collect survey responses that will facilitate ITRC to develop informative material to educate consumers on the topic of children’s use of social media.

The survey allows parents to ask themselves the most commonly asked questions that should be raised when their children in the age groups of 6 to 17 have any social networking accounts. It is an easy opportunity not only to enter a drawing for one of five $100 prizes, but a brief moment to question whether the correct levels of security and diligence are being taken when it comes to children, the internet, and social networking.

To complete the survey, and enter to win $100.00, parents can just visit the ITRC website and click on the Do You Have Children Who Use Social Media? link or click here to take the survey directly.

The survey will run through May 31, 2012. Five $100 prize winners will be announced and contacted on June 1, 2012. The survey results will be released on the ITRC website shortly thereafter.

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Nikki Junker is Social Media Coordinator and Victim Advisor at The Identity Theft Resource Center. She specializes in Identity Theft on social networks and smartphones. She enjoys working one on one with victims of identity theft as well as researching and writing about preventative measures for consumers. Image Credit: Stephalee31 via Flickr.

Categories: Cell Phone, Parenting

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