Dale Fitch. Photo courtesy of the University of Missouri.

Children in foster care should be given guidelines on how to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to prevent them from becoming victims of cyberbullying or divulging confidential information, according to this article on HealthCanal.com.

Some agencies discourage children in foster care from using social media due to the risk of lawsuits if the young people give out sensitive information, said Dale Fitch, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri School of Social Work.

However, using social media helps children in foster care connect with society and gives caretakers insights into their lives, Fitch said.

Fitch, PhD, MSW, created  a framework child welfare agencies can use to develop privacy guidelines to ensure the safe use of social media. He said foster children should be involved in this process.

Social workers help children and teens overcome life’s hurdles. To learn more, visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Kids and Families website by clicking here.