How Facebook is becoming a power tool for parenting

MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, it can all be challenging for parents trying to protect their kids from seedy friends and predators and for many parents it is the vast unknown.

"I guess I got dragged into Facebook kicking and screaming," said Linda Fogg Phillips, a mother of eight and co-author of Facebook for Parents.

Like most parents, Phillips avoided the Internet social websites until her brother, Dr. BJ Fogg, mentioned reading on Facebook that her daughter had a new boyfriend.

"New boyfriend, I didn't know she had an old boyfriend," said Phillips.

That was a wake up call for Phillips who said she realized she wasn't using all the tools available to her to connect with her kids. From that moment she immersed herself into Facebook, learning the language and the culture.

"It is foreign to us as parents, but to our children it is their native environment, it is where they're growing up, where they live."

Linda now educates parents in classes and through a book she co-authored with her brother on how to use Facebook as a power tool.

It became a positive power tool after her son Garrett died from a drug overdose in 2008. He was 20 years old.

"My daughter was really struggling with Garrett's death. She posted 'I really miss Garrett, I [dreamed] about him last night and I wish he were here,'" recalls Phillips.

That posting told Phillips her daughter needed help dealing with her brother’s sudden death.

While parents struggle with the lack of privacy that comes with social websites, Phillips teaches there are ways to control who contacts your child using the "friends" list.

"Facebook is not their private bedroom. It's the front lawn. It is visible to friends and non friends."

Phillips says to control this, parents should walk through the privacy settings with their children.

Then set their friends list to "friends only".

"Friends of Friends is pretty wide open," said Phillips.

She also encourages parents to learn the language so you don't accidently say or post something that would be embarrassing to your child.

Plus keep ahead of the game by asking your child to teach you the latest technology, "It shows you care."

For more information go to facebookforparents.org