Tips on texting for teens and parents

Posted in 21st century parent
by Lorain County Moms

By Amy Kossoff Smith, The Business of Motherhood

It seems like teens and even tweens today can text using two thumbs faster than most adults can type using 10 fingers. That’s not research, by the way, but a MomTini observation. They’re fast; they’ve got their own lingo; and for parents who grew up with cassette tape players in their cars (!), the technology can be overwhelming at times.

This is a first where the younger generation has become proficient in a “language” that is often foreign to parents, in an area that can get them into trouble with peers with a single keystroke, before parents are even aware it’s happening. If parents can become educated on the statistics and arm themselves with new technology parenting tools, they can best protect their kids. There are lots of great resources on the topic, but one caught my eye as a great overview of the situation along with some fabulous tools to foster more open communication between the generations.

A powerful study on the topic, “Sex and Tech,” by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl, reported that 21 percent of teen girls and 18 percent of teen boys have sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves. That’s almost one in 5 kids an alarming statistic.
The National Campaign’s website offers some great resources, including “Five things to think about before pressing ‘send.’ ”

I’ll highlight some of my favorite tips for parents and teens here:

Tips for Parents:

• Talk to your kids openly and honestly about what they’re doing in cyberspace.
• Know their address book know who they’re talking to.
• Set limits and expectations on electronic communication.

Tips for Teens and for Parents to Discuss with Teens:

• Don’t assume anything you send will remain private. The study found that 40% of teens and young adults say they have had a sexually suggestive message meant to be private shown to them; and 20% say they shared such a “private” message with others.
• There is no changing your mind in cyberspace — anything you post will never truly go away. Editor’s note I like to refer to this as an “electronic fingerprint” — it’s indelible, it’s yours, and it’s there for good.
• Don’t give in to the pressure to do something that makes you uncomfortable, even in cyberspace. Editor’s Note: Peer pressure is intense, especially online where it seems more anonymous, but is anything BUT.

Amy Kossoff Smith, founder of The Business of Motherhood, is a nationally recognized Mompreneur who owns a Web site, www.BusinessofMotherhood.com, and blog, www.MomTiniLounge.com. Available 24/7, just like moms, the Web sites offer parenting tips, resources, and a host of ways to manage the job of motherhood.