In an increasingly digital world, social media has seemingly become a way of life for children and young adults, offering platforms for communication, creativity, and connection. However, this connectivity comes with its own set of risks, making social media safety a critical concern for families. As young users navigate online environments, they are exposed to potential dangers such as cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and inappropriate content.
Ensuring their safety involves not only educating them about these risks but also equipping your family with the skills to manage their digital presence responsibly. As part of our Navigating Family Workshop series, we compiled and outlined some helpful resources and tips to ensure social media safety for children and teens.
What is social media? Social media is websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. While there are many advantages to using social media, it also presents challenges such as privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and the potential for addiction, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to its use.
Advantages to social media:
- Enhancement of creativity by sharing and collaborating on music and art
- Growth of ideas through videos, podcasts, blogs
- Increase connections with people from various backgrounds
- Helps to foster a sense of self
- Opportunities for organized engagement and learning opportunities
- Health resources are available
- Connecting with friends
(O’Keeffe, 2011)
Disadvantages to social media:
- Cyberbullying
- Exposure to inappropriate content
- Sleep impairment or lack of focus
- Oversharing personal information
- Passwords, addresses, location, relationships, personal information and more Sleep impairment
- Digital footprint: information that exists online due to online activity
Preventative measures you can take to make social media usage safer:
To make social media usage safer for children, their families can implement preventative measures such as setting strong privacy controls, monitoring online interactions, and educating the children about recognizing and avoiding potential online threats.
- New legislation
- Senate passed Child Online Safety Bill 91-3 in July 2024 which mandates social media companies to protect minors and hold companies liable.
- Requires highest privacy setting as the default
- Stops autoplay on videos
- “Eraser button” that allows you to delete personal information
(New York Times)
- Using a V-chip which lets you block TV programs and movies based on ratings
- Securing your OWN social media profiles by limiting the following:
- Milestone signs for birthdays, first day of school, etc. containing personal information
- Posts about current location and vacations
- Upcoming events you might be attending
- Check what is public information VS shared with friends
- Use “Incognito Mode” and look at your Privacy Settings
- Setting app time limits or blocking certain apps from being downloaded
- Blocking websites on your Wi-Fi router
- Enabling Guided Access on tablets, which Prevents navigating away from the screen when enabled on
Alternative apps:
- PBS Kids
- Nick Jr.
- Disney +
- KidsBeeTV
- Netflix Kids
All of the content on these platforms has been determined to be appropriate for kids and does not allow user uploads. You’re also able to create kid-specific profiles.
Establish Ground Rules Together
- Include your child in this discussion
- Talk about what can/can’t be shared (passwords, info) and provide concrete examples
- Discuss what to do if they come across inappropriate content or share personal information
- Rules can be used to make a visual reminder
Talk to your Child about social media safety & Ask Questions:
- What do you use your phone for the most? Can you show me some of your favorite apps?
- Do you know everyone you have as a contact in your phone and on different apps?
- Has anyone ever taken an embarrassing picture of you without your permission?
- Have you ever taken an embarrassing picture of someone else? What did you do with it?
- Have you ever talked with someone you first met online on your phone?
- What would you do if someone sent you a text or picture that was inappropriate?
- Do you know how to turn off GPS and turn on privacy settings for the different apps you use?
(https://www.missingkids.org/)
Teach and Increase Social Media Literacy Skills:
- Questioning the accuracy of social media content
- Understanding the tactics used to spread disinformation
- Signs of problematic social media use
- How to build and nourish healthy online relationships
- How to solve conflicts that can emerge on social media platforms
- How to refrain from excessive social comparisons online and/or better understand how images and content can be manipulated
- How to recognize online structural racism and critique racist messages
- How to safely communicate about mental health online
- Online Safety for Teens and Adults with ASD Workbook – Discusses in-depth scenarios and has open-ended scenario practice
(apa.org)
References:
- Bozzola E, Spina G, Agostiniani R, Barni S, Russo R, Scarpato E, Di Mauro A, Di Stefano AV, Caruso C, Corsello G, et al. The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(16):9960. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169960
- Bray, Rose (2017) Young people online: encounters with inappropriate content. Parenting for a Digital Future (23 May 2017). Website.
- Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, MD; Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, MD; Council on Communications and Media Pediatrics (2011) 127 (4): 800–804. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0054
- Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023 YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain the most widely used online platforms among U.S. teens BY Monica Anderson, Michelle Faverio and Jeffrey Gottfried December 2023
- https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/social-media-parent-tips
- https://www.commonsensemedia.org
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/monitor-media.html
- https://www.missingkids.org/
- https://nextforautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sarrc-online-safety-manual_3-e.pdf
- https://paautism.org/resource/online-safety-social-story/
- https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/engineering–technology/technological-literacy/digital-citizenship/digital-literacy/?rank_by=recency&selected_facet=grades:K-2,PreK-K
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