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6 tips for teaching children social media safety
By Kristen Galloway , PhD , a licensed psychologist with Baptist Behavioral Health .
Social media can be a great resource for kids to connect to the world around them .
It can increase their creativity by allowing them to make music and podcasts , share art , improve their health and find and converse with like-minded people and groups .
But social media has its downside .
Without the proper privacy settings , restrictions and parental monitoring , children can access whoever and whatever they want . They also can leave behind a permanent record of their whereabouts , photos , posts and more that potential employers or universities can find .
Online shaming and bullying take many forms on the internet , and children and teens can feel the effects very strongly . In some cases , cyber harassment and excessive use can lead to stress-related disorders like anxiety and depression .
So , how are parents supposed to keep their kids safe in a world where nearly everything is online ? Try to think about it like teaching teens how to drive responsibly .
Since social media doesn ’ t come with a standard user ’ s guide and its so-called “ rules ” are complicated ( to say the least ), here are some helpful tips for parents when deciding to integrate social media into their child ’ s life :
1 . Learn the language . Educate yourself on the terms being used frequently by your children and their peers . If you know what the words and abbreviations mean (“ DMing ,” for example , is sending someone a private message on social media ), you ’ re better equipped to know what exactly your child is doing online .
2 . Issue a learner ’ s permit . You wouldn ’ t allow your child to start driving without any experience or knowledge of the rules of the road , right ? Social media should be approached in the same fashion . There should be certain restrictions in the beginning , including limits on screen time and access to certain sites / devices and passwords . When they prove they ’ re responsible , they earn more freedom , access and independence .
3 . Teach safety . Remind your children that online friends can still be strangers . Children , especially younger ones , should never be allowed to meet an internet “ friend ” for the first time in person , alone . If your child begins talking about an online friend , it may be beneficial to follow along to make sure the relationship is appropriate and your child isn ’ t in danger .
4 . Read the fine print . There are numerous apps , devices and privacy settings . Not all will be appropriate for your child . It ’ s important to read the information provided by the app store and service provider , monitor use and slowly add more access , when appropriate .
5 . Do it together . Communicate with your children about how they are using social media . Ask questions about games they enjoy , people they talk to , sites they frequent or channels they follow . Better yet , sit down with them and visit these sites together .
6 . Be a good role model . How often are you on your phone / tablet ? Do you check Facebook at the dinner table or in the middle of a conversation ? Children take cues from their parents , even when it comes to social media practices . Model how to use social media appropriately .
Let ’ s face it . Children will slip up while using social media . A parent ’ s normal reaction would be to remove access completely . However , this limits a child ’ s ability to learn from his or her mistakes . If you find yourself having to consistently set social media limits with your child , it may be time to close his or her accounts for a while . In some cases , professional behavioral health intervention may be needed .
It ’ s in a parent ’ s best interest to help their children navigate all aspects of social media , including the good , the bad and the ugly . When in doubt , trust your parenting skills and remember it ’ s all about communication , supervision , consistency and consequences .
First published in Juice .
24 | ST JOHNS PARENT MAGAZINE