How To Help Your Child Navigate Social Media

Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with friends but can also be a source of anxiety for kids.

If you're like most parents, you're constantly trying to figure out how to help your children navigate the ever-growing social media landscape. With so many platforms and so much information at their fingertips, it can be hard to know where to start. Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, but it can also be a source of anxiety for kids. With so many social media platforms out there, it can be tough for parents to keep up with what their kids are doing.

First consider why your child is using social media.

First, make sure you understand what your child is using social media for and why. Are they just using it to stay in touch with friends and family, or are they using it to find out more about the world? Depending on their reasons, you may need to adjust your parenting style. If they’re just using it to stay in touch, you don’t need to be as involved in their online life as you would if they were using it to explore the internet. It’s also important to know who they are trying to stay in touch with. Usually using a social media platform to stay in touch with relatives is fine but when we open it up to friends and friends of friends it can become problematic. I have seen situations get out of control with my own daughter when she is talking to friends and then they invite their friends that she doesn’t know into the conversation. The conversations more often than not turn into something that my daughter wasn’t prepared to discuss or didn’t feel comfortable discussing which will sometimes lead her to do and say things that are out of character so that she can keep up with the group so that she doesn’t feel left out. This is why it is important that Parents stay close and try to monitor who it is exactly that your child is communicating with.

Set ground rules about social media use.

It is really important to set time limits and talk to your children about your expectations for them while they are online. Children shouldn’t have unlimited access to social media, there must be designated times of day that you allow them to access social media. This way when they are online using social media, they know they only have a limited amount of time, and this will decrease the likelihood that they will wander off exploring videos, pictures and other content that you aren’t comfortable with them accessing. It’s also key that your children know what you want them to be doing while they are using social media.

Here are a few ground rules that you can consider:

1. Don't post anything that you wouldn't want your parents, grandparents or future employers to see. Remember that you are representing yourself and your family when you post content.

2. Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know in real life. When you don’t know these individuals it can lead to dangerous territory, as we all have heard stories about adults posing as children to make friends with them, we have to be very careful with who we call friends.

3. Don't share personal information like your address or phone number online. This goes hand in hand with number two, there is no reason to ever post personal information online. Personally, I don’t even like to post pictures about being in a specific location until after I have left. I feel like we have to be very careful with our private information and location in these times.

4. Don't cyber-bully or harass anyone. It is important for children to understand that they need to treat others as they would want to be treated, even when online.

5. Remember that what you post online is permanent and can be seen by anyone, anywhere in the world. Often times children don’t think ahead, so they may think that something is funny to post at the time without realizing how it comes across. So, they should think carefully before posting any content.

Have a way to access your child’s social media accounts.

Some Parents may disagree however in my opinion it is important that you have a way to access your child s social media accounts so that you can keep an eye on them and make sure they are staying safe. Some may feel as though this is an invasion of your child’s privacy but when they are a child their privacy does not supersede their safety. This should not be done in a sneaky way, but in a way where you help your child to understand why you must have access. You should talk to your child about the importance of you having access because of the dangers of social media, such as cyberbullying and predators. You can simply have your child add you as a friend to their account so that you can see what is going on or utilize various apps that are out there to access the activity on your child’s cell phone.

Be supportive but be involved.

As your child begins to grow and learn about the world around them, they will also start to explore new technologies and social media platforms. While this can be a fun and exciting time for them, it can also be dangerous if they are not supervised. Be supportive of their growth but be involved to help ensure their safety. Let them know that they can come to you with any problems or concerns that they have. Emphasize that you want them to have access to social media but to use social media in a safe and responsible way.