Family Social Media Resource List
Preteens and teens face a variety of hazards on social media, from cyber-bullying to pornography, self-harm videos and more. Between the extremes of prohibiting social media entirely and letting kids use it without supervision or restriction, there is a middle ground. We can talk to our kids, set clear boundaries and stay engaged in their online lives, giving them the tools to confront the hazards, but also enjoy the benefits of social media.
These resources will help.
These resources will help.
Read: A Social Media Contract for Tweens and Parents: Guide your tween's social media life with this contract on Very Well Family
You've established rules for your tween for when he or she's at home, school or a friend's house, but you also need to set clear rules for when your child is online. The contract below should help you establish rules and behavior for both you and your tween, so that healthy habits are established from the beginning. |
Read: Facebook, Instragram and Social on Common Sense Media
Social media isn't simply a way of life for kids -- it's life itself. To help them keep their online interactions safe, productive, and positive, we offer the most up-to-date research and guidance on social media basics. Learn about the latest apps and websites, and get tips on talking to your kids about sharing, posting, and avoiding digital drama. |
Read: Porn Is Not The Worst Thing On Musical.ly on Scary Mommy
Pretend you can turn your kid invisible. Pretend you drop your invisible kid off at a warehouse downtown LA. You have no idea who’s inside — fingers crossed it’s packed with Nobel Peace Prize winners, board-certified pediatricians and J.K. Rowling. Pray it is not packed with the worst of humanity. No one can see your kid, but your kid can see everyone and hear everything. Would you do it? Of course you wouldn’t. |
Read: Teaching Kid's About Social Media on KidsHealth
There are plenty of good things about social media — but also many potential dangers and things that you want your kids and teens to avoid. They don't always make the smartest choices when they post something to a site like Facebook or YouTube, and sometimes this can lead to problems. So it's important for parents to teach their kids how to use social media wisely. Additional Social Media Resources
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Read: 10 Safe Social Media Sites for Kids on NPR Digital Life
The key to all of this for parents — for getting the most out of social networking and all technology, is understanding the technology, setting usage rules, setting privacy settings and, most importantly, training your kids to practice responsible online behavior. |
Read: Social Media Training for Kids : 60-Minute Class Workshop on HuffPost
Worried about kids and social networks? While services like Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest are among the most public of online spaces, it may help to recall that a little education can go a long way towards teaching children how to behave and act more appropriately on these sites. |
As parents, our two top priorities are to keep our children safe and to provide as many opportunities as possible for them to make the most of their lives.
However, we also know that it can be challenging to do both at once; allowing our children to experience life often comes at the cost of having to expose them to dangers and threats from which they were previously sheltered. |
Do you think it is a good idea for Instagram to develop a version of its photo-sharing app for children under 13? Why or why not?
In your opinion, are social media platforms unsafe or unhealthy for younger users? Is creating separate apps the right response to these concerns — or are some children too young to be on social media at all? |
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