What is that app Facechat or Snapbook or Tweets and something with a Gram? There are so many apps that have been created that teenagers find, and it is hard to keep up with what is what. All the different types of apps are social and can be fun with friends, but can also bring in online dangers, which include people prying for personal information, asking for pictures, and cyberbullying. One of the most difficult things for teenagers to understand, is that what is on the internet stays on the internet. Colleges and employers are now looking into backgrounds on potential candidates by viewing what people are posting online. Another challenge is helping a child understand the dangers of giving out personal information; kids at times may believe the person they are talking to is who they say they are without even meeting them. There are many stories of how kids have been kidnapped by people saying they are "13" and, in actuality, they are adults. Peer pressure is yet another challenge for kids; it can be difficult to say no when being asked to take a picture of themselves and send it to the other person who "promises" they will never share it. Once a photo is sent, there is no taking it back. When an App called Snapchat came out, kids would say it would automatically delete sent pictures, never to be seen again. The issue is people can take a screen shot and it remain on their phone for others to share. Kids think it will be deleted and the app will let them know if someone screen shot it. Even though it notifies you that someone took a screenshot, the person still has the image. This is just one example of potential dangers of giving out information.

The primary goals for your kids are educating kids of potential dangers, encouraging them to avoid being harmful to others through social media, and even suggesting they just take a break from the internet at times. Monitoring your child's use and posts is an important way you can continue to be aware of things you may need to educate them on.

Below are some tips and information to begin that process.

Below is a segment that Katie Couric had presented about teens and social media.

Here is a video that you, as a parent, can use to help your child understand what happens when not being safe with texting and social media.

Below are videos explaining what to look for and how these apps that are popular work.

The following links can be helpful for both parents and kids about the dangers of the internet and internet safety:

http://www.netsmartz.org

http://www.commonsensemedia.org

https://www.fbi.gov/fun-games/kids/kids-safety