Stanford Offers Free Facebook Course for Parents. Will Twitter be next?

Although I still haven’t forgiven them for ‘The Game’ in 2007, I will admit they know their ‘Internets.’ Stanford University is now offering a free class called Facebook for Parents. The course is being offered by Stanford psychologist Dr. BJ Fogg, head of the Persuasive Technology Lab, and his sister Linda Phillips, a cyber-savvy Mom with kids ranging from 5th grade up to college.

The class experience has been designed for busy parents with kids under 18 years of age. (Parents of college-age students are also welcome.) An optional lab comes before each class, where parents can work hands-on with Stanford students who will coach them in using Facebook. (*Or maybe they could just take a Field Trip over to the Facebook offices, mere blocks away?)

Five Steps for Parents on Facebook

#1. Join Facebook.

Yes, you should sign up for Facebook. This service was once just for college students, but today it’s for everyone. Parents need to be part of this world.

#2. “Friend” your kids.

To “friend” someone on Facebook means connecting to them. Your kids will probably complain about you “friending” them. That’s normal. But if your kids are minors, you should “friend” them.

#3. Review your kids’ profile pages.

Go to the profile pages for your kids and review the content. At first, you’ll see the “Wall.” But don’t stop there. Click on the tabs for “Info” and “Photos” to see more.

#4. Review who is “friends” with your kids.

On the profile page for your kids, click on the words “See All” in the Friends box. You can then see who is linked to your kids.

#5. Select “More About” for your kids.

Watch for an item about your kids in your News Feed. Click on that item and select the “More About” option. This tells Facebook to show you more about that person in the future, sort of like turning up the volume.

What’s Next?

After these five steps, parents still have more to learn and do, but this is where to start. Sign up for the free newsletter for more info and to stay updated with the ever-changing world of Facebook. In addition, each newsletter explains new skills kids can learn on Facebook that will benefit their future.