5 Parent Tips for Online Safety
If you are a parent, it can be important to regularly check in regarding our kids' social media activity, especially regarding exposure to current world events. While it’s traumatizing for anyone to witness violence, children are especially vulnerable. Now is a good time to review and learn a few reminders and guidelines for monitoring your kids' social media use.
Here are five tips from Meredith Martin, one of our children’s therapists at NCCC, for practicing online safety with your kids.
Talk to your kids about what they're seeing on social media on a weekly basis, at minimum. Trends and algorithms change frequently, meaning what your child is exposed to could vary day to day. Ask them what posts/videos they're seeing, and let them know you'll be checking their accounts and why.
Use screen-time limits on apps or their devices to limit negative impacts on sleep and/or self control.
Practice monitoring your own phone habits in order to model behaviors to your kids.
In relation to current events, ask them what they know/have heard/have seen. Be prepared to answer questions, but remember it's okay if the answer is "I don't know."
Use your resources, whether that's having a session with me to help figure out how to have these hard conversations with your kids and possibly set new boundaries around social media use and/or talking your kids' teacher(s) or guidance counselor at school about what may be introduced to your child inside or outside of the classroom. You're not alone trying to navigate the new-ish world of parenting in the age of social media.
Resources:
Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
