Parents to brush up on social media skills

Stephen Romano

Parents worried about their children’s social media habits will have a chance to learn the behind-the-scene aspects of the ways people engage online.

The Ed. Foundation is presenting a “Parenting in a Digital Age” event at the Landmark on Main Street on March 28, featuring social media experts from Port Washington.

Carrie and Dave Kerpen, founders of Likeable Media, will be talking about raising children in the age of social media, offering advice on privacy settings, digital family contracts and ways of keeping safe online, according to a news release.

The event, which is part of the Ed. Foundation’s speaker series, will help raise proceeds for the foundation to fund grants for Port Washington schools.

Likeable Media, which is an organization that uses a three-step approach to social media marketing, was started by Carrie and Dave Kerpen in 2006 when they turned a start-up into a full-service agency, the release said.

“Parents need to know how to relate in the world their children are trying to navigate by understanding how they communicate with their peers (and sometimes unwelcome strangers) online,” said Becky Schamis, vice president of marketing and communications for the Ed. Foundation. “New digital platforms crop up almost daily, and parents should know who their children are connecting with through the many available apps, and how they can potentially open themselves up to harmful situations ranging from problems with peers to potentially dangerous encounters with strangers.”

Schamis said the Ed. Foundation is hosting the event now in response to “constant issues that arise in school because of social media.”

“Whether kids are ‘sexting,’ connecting with people they may not know, or simply spending too much time on their devices, this is always a struggle,” she said. “And since the social media landscape is changing so quickly, it’s hard for parents to keep up.”

Schamis said the talk will appeal to parents with children of all ages and grandparents “trying to relate to their grandparents.”

“The foundation is thrilled to serve as a resource for families in the community on issues relating to education,” Schamis said. “Kids need to feel safe in order to succeed in school, and knowing how to utilize social media appropriately is a key component of their safety and general well-being.  The Kerpens follow Frank Bruni in the annual speaker series, designed to bring dynamic speakers to Port on a variety of relevant topics.”

The event cost $20 for Ed. Foundation members and $25 for non-members.

Tickets can be purchased at www.Edfoundation.org.

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