A Need for Ethics in Texting

We live in a rapidly changing world. Think about it, how many conveniences that we take for granted did not even exist twenty years ago. Cell phones and home computers, led to laptops and i-phones. On-line shopping and texting did not even exist. In the case of the Millenial Generation, all these changes have taken place during their lifetime.



As a result, one issue our society has to deal with is a lack of ethics when it comes to the use of some of the technologies. So how do we help our teens learn the proper etiquette when it comes to the use of their cell phone? Here are some suggestions:



Establish some boundaries. Use of the cell phone for both texting and conversations should be off limits at certain times. Obviously that should include during churches services and similar public events but also should include meal times, including when eating out in a restaurant.



Designate a No Texting Zone. When our kids were teens I found that time together in the car was a great time to have conversation. I often used the time between school and home to talk about what was going on in my world and theirs. Maybe you want to make your car or one room in the house, the family room for example, a no texting zone. That way to guarantee you have a place where you can have uninterrupted conversation.



Talk about the issues. Let them know that you are aware of the issue of cyber bullying and the safety hazard that goes with texting while driving. Encourage them to be open and honest when they feel threatened by cyber bullies.



Encourage them to call you, rather than just texting you when their plans change. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get a sense of their mood. It's a lot more difficult to be deceptive when you have to verbalize it, than when you are just typing in a message.



Model good cyber ethics yourself. The same rules should apply to you as to your teens. Remember, they are watching you.