Social Networking Sites: A Parent’s Guide
GE Touch Screen is Awarded Maximum Impact Award at ESX Expo
Congratulations to June’s Winners
Get One Month of Free Monitoring

Social Networking Sites: A Parent’s Guide

“It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?”

Remember that phrase from your own childhood? It’s still a valid question, but now, it comes with a twist: “Do you know where your kids are — and who they’re chatting with online?”

Social networking sites have morphed into a mainstream medium for teens and adults. These sites encourage and enable people to exchange information about themselves, share pictures and videos, and use blogs and private messaging to communicate with friends, others who share interests, and sometimes even the world-at-large. And that’s why it’s important to be aware of the possible pitfalls that come with networking online.

Parents sometimes can feel outpaced by their technologically savvy kids. Technology aside, there are lessons that parents can teach to help kids remain safe as they socialize online.

Here are a few tips that can help your kids safely socialize online.

1. Help your kids understand what information should be private. Tell them why it’s important to keep some things — about themselves, family members and friends — to themselves. Information like their full name, Social Security number, street address, phone number, and family financial information — like bank or credit card account numbers — is private and should stay that way. Tell them not to choose a screen name that gives away too much personal information.

2. Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s website. Some social networking sites have strong privacy settings. Show your child how to use these settings to limit who can view their online profile, and explain to them why this is important.

3. Explain that kids should post only information that you — and they — are comfortable with others seeing. Even if privacy settings are turned on, some — or even all — of your child’s profile may be seen by a broader audience than you’re comfortable with. Encourage your child to think about the language used in a blog, and to think before posting pictures and videos. Employers, college admissions officers, team coaches, and teachers may view your child’s postings. Even a kid’s screen name could make a difference. Encourage teens to think about the impression that screen names could make.

4. Remind your kids that once they post information online, they can’t take it back. Even if they delete the information from a site, older versions may exist on other people’s computers and be circulated online.

5. Know how your kids are getting online. More and more, kids are accessing the Internet through their cell phones. Find out about what limits you can place on your child’s cell phone. Some cellular companies have plans that limit downloads, Internet access, and texting; other plans allow kids to use those features only at certain times of day.

6. Talk to your kids about bullying. Online bullying can take many forms, from spreading rumors online and posting or forwarding private messages without the sender’s OK, to sending threatening messages. Tell your kids that the words they type and the images they post can have real-world consequences. They can make the target of the bullying feel bad, make the sender look bad — and, sometimes, can bring on punishment from the authorities. Encourage your kids to talk to you if they feel targeted by a bully.

7. Talk to your kids about avoiding sex talk online. Recent research shows that teens who don’t talk about sex with strangers online are less likely to come in contact with a predator.

If you’re concerned that your child is engaging in risky online behavior, you can search the blog sites they visit to see what information they’re posting. Try searching by their name, nickname, school, hobbies, grade, or area where you live.

8. Tell your kids to trust their gut if they have suspicions. If they feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online, encourage them to tell you. You can then help them report concerns to the police and to the social networking site. Most sites have links where users can immediately report abusive, suspicious, or inappropriate online behavior.

9. Read sites’ privacy policies. Spend some time with a site’s privacy policy, FAQs, and parent sections to understand its features and privacy controls. The site should spell out your rights as a parent to review and delete your child’s profile if your child is younger than 13.

Some social networking sites attract pre-teens — even kids as young as 5 or 6. These younger-focused sites don’t allow the same kinds of communication that teens and adults have, but there are still things that parents can do to help young kids socialize safely online. In fact, when it comes to young kids, the law provides some protections — and gives parents some control over the type of information that children can disclose online. For sites directed to children under age 13, and for general audience sites that know they’re dealing with kids younger than 13, there’s the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). It requires these sites to get parental consent before they collect, maintain, or use kids’ information. COPPA also allows parents to review their child’s online profiles and blog pages.

What to do if there’s a problem
Encourage your kids to tell you if they feel threatened by someone or uncomfortable because of something online. Then report it right away to the police and the social networking site.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites to obtain parental consent before collecting, using, or disclosing personal information from children under age 13. If a website is violating COPPA, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

For More Information
To learn more about staying safe online, visit the websites of the following organizations:

Federal Trade Commission
www.onguardonline.gov

GE Touch Screen is Awarded Maximum Impact Award at ESX Expo

Farmington, CT, June 24, 2010 - UTC Fire & Security’s Global Security Products business (Formerly GE Security) has been honored with the ESX Expo Maximum Impact Award for its new Simon XT Two-Way Talking Touch Screen, which provides wireless control of security panels, lighting and thermostatic control devices. The award was given at the ESX Expo, the premier training exhibition for security integration and monitoring companies, in the “Best Residential Custom Electronics: Home Automation Systems” category.

The Two-Way Talking Touch features a standard message marquee on the screen that provides an effective way to communicate key messages directly to the customer. In addition, an audible setting status enables the device to “speak” to the user, indicating alarm setting, and if doors or windows are open or closed, and also displays the weather forecast and current temperature on the screen.

"The Two-Way Talking Touch Screen is a unique product for the homeowner”, said David Nark, product marketing manager. “It’s a very user-friendly way to protect the home, while integrating control of security, lighting and heating and air conditioning systems.”

The ESX Expo, held June 15 - 17 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the only major national trade event exclusively focused on the needs of installation, integration and monitoring companies. ESX covers the four major technologies of electronic security: video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and fire detection. UTC Fire & Security is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

Congratulations to June Winners

We would like to thank everyone for their submissions in June. We received letters from all over the US and Canada describing the safety and security Pinnacle Security provides. Three of those entries were selected to receive one month of free monitoring (up to $69) from Pinnacle Security.

In today’s unsure world, my Pinnacle Security System gives me peace of mind. Right now our family is currently on a fixed income, so the things I own I treasure because they would be very difficult for me to replace. Having a Pinnacle's Security system lets me know that everything I own, and everyone who lives here, will be safe and secure. I don't carry the worry with me anymore when our whole family leaves or when we go to bed. This feeling is well worth the monitoring fee, in fact I would say it it worth much more to have such protection and a wonderful feeling of security.

David G.

I live in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. It is an upcoming city which is attracting more and more people to the area. I travel a lot so I rely on my alarm system to protect my home. I have peace of mind knowing that my home is protected while I am traveling. It is like Pinnacle is watching over my home for me. I set the system when I leave and know that I will get a phone call if any danger is brought to my home. This was truly an investment worth making.

Lisa W.

Around New years day my wife and I were visiting her sister and someone tried to break in to our house through our garage door. Luckily, we had our Pinnacle Security system armed and they abandon their efforts as soon as the alarm was tripped going from our garage into our house. They weren’t able to get into our house thanks to Pinnacle Security. Pinnacle has provided my wife and I total peace of mind when it comes to our house being safe and secure!

Craig W.

Get One Month of Free Monitoring

Pinnacle Security has protected thousands of homes from burglaries, fires and medical emergencies. We would like to hear how your alarm has benefited you and your family. Three entries will be selected every month. Those entries selected will be given one free* month of monitoring (up to $69) from Pinnacle Security. Whether the system saved your home or a loved one, or simply gives you peace of mind when you leave your home, we want to hear your story. Send your comments to: [email protected]