6 Tips for Keeping Teens Safe On Social Media

More than 60 percent of teenagers in the United States have at least one social media account, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 

And, while being online is a good way to keep in touch with friends, it's important for you to be proactive about your children's internet safety.

Unfortunately, there are people who can and will use your child's personal information to steal identities, bully them or begin an inappropriate relationship.

Help protect your children from online dangers by following these safety tips:

1. Keep your children’s profile private so that only family and people you know can see photos, important dates, and other information.        

2. Make sure your children aren’t posting personal details, including phone numbers, home address, and the name of their school or Social Security number.

3. Only allow them to publish photos and videos that don't jeopardize their safety or their integrity.

4. Make sure they choose a strong password that can't be guessed and update that password every three months.

5. Never allow your children to accept friend requests from people they don’t know.

6. Keep an open dialogue with your children. Tell them to let you know if they've received private messages from a stranger or from someone at school who is teasing, harassing, or threatening them. Those could be signs of cyber-bullying or even a sexual predator.

Do you have any other tips you would like to add? Leave them below.