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Back in my day (now I’m about to really sound old), my idea of social media was talking on the phone and using three-way. I’m a child of the ’70s. If I wanted to talk to someone in another state, let alone another country, it was fairly expensive and would typically only be done during special occasions. Now we have the ability to Skype and FaceTime with people for free at our leisure. And with this technology being so readily available and affordable our children also are exposed to more things at an earlier age than I could have imagined would be possible just 20 short years ago.
Teenagers are heavy users of social media. Roughly 75 percent of teens have a profile on at least one social media platform. For most of us, growing up and trying to fit in was a part of being an adolescent. But teens today, especially girls, worry not only about maintaining a “perfect” image in real life but on social media, too. Overall media use among youth has increased by 20 percent during the past decade, and multi-tasking — simultaneously assessing two or more forms of media — has increased by more than 119 percent in the same period.
When you talk with your kids about social media, the discussion should be more like a conversation than a lecture. Kids won’t respond well to being told what they shouldn’t do or say. Better to have a conversation exploring common-sense ways to use social media.
Here are 5 ways to help your child use social media responsibly:
- Set a limit on how much computer and phone time your child is allowed. Expect some resistance.
- Be a positive role model for your child. If you are always on the phone or computer, most likely your child will mirror what you are doing. Set aside time when all electronic devices are turned off. There are cell phone “jails” where all devices are kept during that time. Now that’s a great way of making everyone accountable. (Wondering when it’s time to allow your child a cell phone? Read another parent’s experience, here.)
- Get the password and user names for all of the social media outlets that your child uses. There will definitely be a power struggle over this. It is in your children’s best interest, however, to have parents spot-check their social media accounts periodically to see what they are posting and who they are following and communicating with.
- Teach your child never to share any personal information over the Internet, such as their address, phone number or inappropriate pictures. Your child may have good intentions, but the person on the other end may not be who or what they portray themselves to be online.
- Remind your child that everything they post online is there forever, even if they delete it. A child may post something while they are upset. If they don’t want anyone to read or see something, they shouldn’t post it. Colleges and potential employers look at their social media accounts.
Social media is not all bad and actually can help children learn about new cultures and make friends all over the world. The key is to educate your child and set up limitations and expectations from the beginning.
Alisha Lampley is the founder of Coily Locks. She and her husband, Jeff, have two daughters, 12 and 5. A former social worker, Alisha retired to focus on her family and began blogging as a way to share her natural hair journey, musings about motherhood and marriage, and her passion for food and wine.
