Parents Keeping Closer Tabs on Kids Internet Activity

After violence broke out in and near schools that police said involved social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter, local school officials and parents are taking a closer look at how teens use these popular sites.

A fight erupted at Annapolis High School in March over a dispute that police said began on social media. It ended with five girls and two boys being charged with offenses.

In February, a fight broke out behind Broadneck High School in an area commonly known as The Pit. The school's principal, David Smith said the crowd that gathered there that day was due in large part to social media.

At a community meeting, Smith and others urged parents to become more familiar with social media and how their children use it.

“Part of the reason we had such a large crowd out there on that day is they gossip at light speed because of social media,” Smith said. “Things like this used to be word of mouth, but now, everybody can hear about it.”

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education recently reviewed a social media policy that would set guidelines on student and faculty use of the websites while on school computers.

The board’s policy defines a social media website as “Any online or Internet based platform that allows interactive communication between persons or entities on social networks, blogs, websites, application software, Internet forums, and wikis."

But discussion of social media sites by students isn't limited to meeting rooms. Social media has been an active topic among parents as well.

At a public hearing on recent problems behind Broadneck High School that were connected to social media, parents, the principals and others encouraged parents to take an active role in their children's online activities.

Scott Dembowski, the president of the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association, said he's learned that a child's time online should be monitored.

“Get their passwords, sit down with them and look at who they’re talking to online,” Dembowski said. “Look at what they’re posting. My kids, they’re fantastic, but let me tell you, they’re totally different in that virtual world. So don’t expect your kids to behave how they should in that virtual world.”

Margo Speciale, an Annapolis mom with children who attend the Key School, said she’s less concerned with account-based sites like Facebook than about a new site called ask.fm, a question-and-answer based sharing site. Ask.fm empowers its users to post anonymous questions.

“Although it can be harmless to ask innocent questions, that’s not what happens. Kids get bullied, people say things about their friends online that they never would in person. It gets ugly," she said.

The site came under fire recently in the United Kingdom where some parents are calling for a ban of the website after teens were being bullied online anonymously.

Speciale said that she monitors her daughters’ access to such sites, but is concerned about other teens and parents who may not know the dangers that are out there.

“Part of me hates to spy on my kids, but I feel like it’s my job to ensure they’re safe and that’s what I have to do. It’s a whole new world out there," she said.

Speciale said she hopes more parents become vigilant of the dangers of social media. If more parents became involved in their children’s online lives, the landscape of the Internet may become less treacherous.

“The more of us are on there that are looking, and teaching our kids to be responsible users, the safer it’s going to be for everyone,” she said.