Staying ahead of the curve: social media forums for parents
MARTINSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – Social media is always changing – and it often feels like teenagers are one step ahead of adults.
Tuesday marks the first of two forums during the lunch hour designed to keep parents ahead of the curve.
They’re put on by the Indiana Youth Institute, the Children’s Bureau, Inc. and Youth Connections.
Experts say they’re hoping to educate parents on the potential pitfalls of social media: they say it can lead to cyberbullying, it can be an avenue for threats like we saw recently in Plainfield, or it can cause anxiety or depression.
Captain Brent Worth with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department will be the main speaker. He says it’s imperative for parents to maintain that open communication with their children.
Worth says he’ll also discuss the apps parents may not know about – like Yik Yak, or Ask FM.
YikYak lets users share anonymous messages. Omegle is an app that’s toted as a way to meet new friends – users talk to strangers. But experts say even on Omegle’s website, it warns that predators have been known to use the app.
Have you heard of ooVoo? It’s an app that allows video chatting. Or maybe the app called “Down.” That’s toted as a way to meet people to date in person.
Worth says kids nowadays can even hide or disguise apps they don’t want their parents to find on their phones.
“The most important message is for families to be involved,” said Worth.
Worth says if parents do become disconnected, there are apps out there to protect children, like TeenSafe. That allows parents to monitor their child’s activities on the phone if they choose.
If you are interested in learning more, the first forum is set for Tuesday Feb. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Martinsville. That will takes place at Hoosier Harvest Church on 4085 Leonard Road.
If you miss that forum, there will be another one set for Thursday, Feb. 25 in Greenwood. That will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Greenwood Christian Church on 2045 Averitt Road.
The forums are free. If you plan to attend, organizers ask that you RSVP by going to www.iyi.org/ywc. Or, you can contact djones@iyi.org.