DAYTON -- It's a social media world. New sites are popping up every day. You may not know about them, but your kids do. And that's a reason for concern.
Just about everyone has a Facebook account, which is the problem. It's not considered "cool" anymore by a lot of kids. So they're turning to other social media sites that you need to start monitoring.
Instagram and Keek are social media sites that are growing more popular among kids everyday because many parents haven't joined and don't follow them, yet. You probably want to start doing so now though.
"Facebook has lost some of its cache, it's lost some of its credibility among people who are looking for the newest tool, newest service, newest website," said Dr. Art Jibson, social media expert at the University of Dayton.
Instagram isn't the newest social media site, but it is newer to many parents.
"I've heard of Instagram, but I'm not familiar with it," said Miamisburg mom Stephanie Hess.
Instagram is similar to Twitter, except you post photos. You can imagine how that can easily lead down a dangerous path if your kid's privacy settings aren't iron clad.
And then there's Keek.
"With something like Keek, you can be very creative and post this in such a way that it can be categorized to get the most views," Dr. Jipson explained.
Keek allows users to upload 30-second videos. However, they can also send those videos privately to other users who follow them, which can easily lead to a new form of online sexting. That's why it's so important for you to track what your kids are doing on these social media sites.
"Parents should be working with their children. I always underscore that: you're working with, you're trying to educate," Jipson said.
Jipson suggests parents talk to their kids about what's safe and appropriate to post. And make sure only friends and family members are following them, if you allow them to join the sites at all.
"I think parents should get more involved and see what it is. I mean you get to know more about your kids on those sites," Hess said.
Just like Facebook, Instagram and Keek say children under 13 need a parent's permission to sign up.
Just about everyone has a Facebook account, which is the problem. It's not considered "cool" anymore by a lot of kids. So they're turning to other social media sites that you need to start monitoring.
Instagram and Keek are social media sites that are growing more popular among kids everyday because many parents haven't joined and don't follow them, yet. You probably want to start doing so now though.
"Facebook has lost some of its cache, it's lost some of its credibility among people who are looking for the newest tool, newest service, newest website," said Dr. Art Jibson, social media expert at the University of Dayton.
Instagram isn't the newest social media site, but it is newer to many parents.
"I've heard of Instagram, but I'm not familiar with it," said Miamisburg mom Stephanie Hess.
Instagram is similar to Twitter, except you post photos. You can imagine how that can easily lead down a dangerous path if your kid's privacy settings aren't iron clad.
And then there's Keek.
"With something like Keek, you can be very creative and post this in such a way that it can be categorized to get the most views," Dr. Jipson explained.
Keek allows users to upload 30-second videos. However, they can also send those videos privately to other users who follow them, which can easily lead to a new form of online sexting. That's why it's so important for you to track what your kids are doing on these social media sites.
"Parents should be working with their children. I always underscore that: you're working with, you're trying to educate," Jipson said.
Jipson suggests parents talk to their kids about what's safe and appropriate to post. And make sure only friends and family members are following them, if you allow them to join the sites at all.
"I think parents should get more involved and see what it is. I mean you get to know more about your kids on those sites," Hess said.
Just like Facebook, Instagram and Keek say children under 13 need a parent's permission to sign up.