By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
“Loose Lips Sink Ships,” a popular phrase during WWII remains true today, especially since the inception of the internet and social media, which has created more challenges in keeping the military safe.
Military members and their spouses are routinely reminded of the importance of OPSEC and PERSEC. It can be difficult keeping tight lips when social media encourages people to be more open.
Social media has spurred a new norm among children, teens and young adults by opening a window into their world—a large window. It seems just about everything is shared, including: images of food, the sky, umpteen selfies or inane screenshots of the time of day. It’s safe to assume there’s a need for new material.
Military life provides ample fodder for social media posts; whether it’s moves, new town/country, new friends, new scenery or new adventures. Social media has benefited military families exponentially in aiding long distance friendships, and offers invaluable supportive communities.
Unfortunately, social media has its pitfalls. The same innocuous posts or pictures shared with family and friends can also find their way into the wrong hands. Parents have been warned of the dangers social media poses to children.
Educating kids about cyber bullying, sexual predators and scammers is very important, but there are also sinister predators lurking behind screens taking note, seeking information on military members and their families.
It’s often a natural inclination to shelter children from the horrors of groups like ISIS, and threats made by antagonistic foreign governments. It’s especially difficult trying to find the right words to avoid panic and fear while explaining the reality that there are some people in the world who want to harm the military and their families.
It’s vital for kids to understand they too, play an important role in keeping the military safe. Terror groups such as, ISIS and Hezbollah have become insidious in using social media platforms as recruitment tools. It’s not inconceivable to think terror groups may try to use unsuspecting military children to divulge information about their parents, bases, deployments or even scouting softer targets, like military families.
In addition to terror groups, countries like China and Russia have a history of cyber-attacks. Russia is known to exploit social media sites by creating factious profiles to manipulate social media to deepen divisive rhetoric. Children, teens and young adults are vulnerable to exploitation by terror groups and adversaries due to their innocent and naïve mindsets.
The role of social media in modern warfare is still developing, but it’s proving to be a powerful tool, or weapon. Shielding children from ways in which they can be used, or even targeted by adversaries is a reality that needs to be addressed. Countries such as China, Russia and Iran along with terror organizations haven’t hesitated to use and abuse their own children to advance their goals. If the enemy is willing to sacrifice their own, it’s suffice to say they wouldn’t bat an eyelash exploiting the innocence of American children.
To help safeguard your children and family from the prying eyes and ears of ominous social media users, here are some valuable tips to share with your children:
- Be honest and upfront with your children about the wolf in sheep’s clothing on social media sites. Just as they are taught not believe everything on the internet, they should be taught bad people often mask their true identities and intentions.
- Educate your children on the meaning of OPSEC and PERSEC, and their integral role to the safety and security of the military. It’s important to stress being a military child doesn’t exempt them from OPSEC and PERSEC.
- Trust, but verify. Before accepting friends or followers on social media, make sure the person behind the profile is legit. Ask questions only family and friends would know before accepting requests/invitations.
- Refrain from broadcasting military affiliations on public profiles. Displaying pride in the military and military parents shouldn’t need to be hidden; however, it is the easiest identifier for cyber predators. Don’t invite bad guys to explore more about your family.
- Limit who can access and view locations. Be mindful of posting real-time pictures and videos that may identify locations. Never disclose home addresses, even in closed social media groups. Don’t publically share school names and addresses. Never post pictures of military bases, in fact photographing certain military installations is a federal offense punishable by law.
- Avoid posting homecoming countdowns. Never publically post deployment updates or whereabouts of loved ones, even if it has been officially released by the Department of Defense.
Many things have changed since WWII. Loved ones of deployed service members no longer must wait weeks, months or years to receive letters or hear one another’s voices. The internet has connected military families in ways that deployed loved ones can feel closer to home.
There is an old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” The support, strength and dedication of military families transcends time. Keeping the military safe is a priority for loved ones. It’s why, “Loose Lips Sink Ships” is as important today as it was nearly 80 years ago. For the generations immersed in technology, Quick Clicks Sink Ships may be more applicable. Stop and think before speaking, is the equivalent to stop and think before clicking.
