Social Media: What Parents Should Know

What is social media?

Sharing information and images via social media is a part of daily life for many children and teens. Social media allows kids to communicate with one another, and to document and share what they are doing in real time. 

Social media is always changing, with new apps appearing all the time. It’s important for parents to learn about the different technologies children are using to help keep them safe online.

• Students use social media to create profiles, follow and be followed by others, message and chat with others, upload pictures and videos, like, favorite, and comment on others’ content, play multiplayer games, join groups, and more.
• Social media can be thought of as the modern day mall where students can hang out and express themselves with their peers with limited oversight from adults.
• The world of social media for our students is incredibly nuanced and complex. For instance, many students have multiple accounts, one used with family and one used with friends.
• The interplay between students' social media world and real life is complex. Some students are more savvy in one than the other.     

How can I keep my children safe using social media?

• Show interest in your child’s online life and ask questions.
• Discuss what’s okay and safe to post online, and what isn’t. Online posts stay online forever. As a general rule, your child shouldn’t post anything they wouldn’t want a parent or teacher to see or read.
• People can’t always control what others post about them. Explain that information and photos found online can turn up again years later.
• Be aware that adults are active on the same social media platforms school-aged students are using.

What about limits?

• Model good behavior on your own social media accounts.
• Set screen time limits and set rules on when screens are appropriate to use.

What should I know about online privacy?

• Check your child’s privacy policy settings to make sure they aren't sharing more information than you want (for example, their birthdate or location).
• In many cases, students can and are encouraged to choose who they allow to view their accounts.
• If they use a GPS-enabled smartphone or tablet, they could be posting status updates, photos and videos with “geotags”. Geotags share the exact location of where your photo was taken. Make sure these are turned off on devices.
• Remind your child not to share passwords, even with friends.
• Encourage them to protect and respect their friends’ privacy too. They should ask permission before posting something about a friend, such as a photo or a video. They should also be aware of what their friends are posting about them.

Parents, much of the above information was pulled from the following resource: "Social Media: What Parents Should Know" | Caring for Kids (link). There are many more helpful tips and suggestions in the full article. I encourage you to read it and to seek out other resources related to social media. It's a fast moving topic on which parents need to keep themselves informed.

Some additional resources:

Social Media Facts and Advice | Internet Matters.org (link)

Facebook, Instagram, and Social | Common Sense Media (link)

When Should You Come Between a Teenager and Their Phone? | Child Mind Institute (link)

Sincerely,

Mr. Hutcheson