The Dos and Don’ts of Introducing Social Media to Your Kids
It’s a guarantee that your children will start using social media. The decision you must make is when that will happen. The most important thing is to be cautious when exposing your children to social media and to choose when and how they begin using it. Don’t rely on your children’s friends to teach them or on your children themselves to determine when they are ready. But once you decide to allow your children to use social media, stick around and be part of the process. You should monitor their activity and educate them and yourself on what is and is not proper. And to help you begin your education, we’ve compiled a list of dos and don’ts of introducing social media to your kids.
DO become a positive influence
When youngsters witness their parents using social media, they automatically believe it is good for them. Otherwise, why would they spend so many hours on their phones, right? You know the answer to that, and it couldn’t be more wrong. Social media can be bad for us, especially when we get addicted. Therefore, as parents, we need to set an example for our children and limit our time on social media. You can, for example, set an alarm that notifies you when you have spent enough time on your phone. And you can do the same with your kids. In this manner, you can limit their time on social media while also protecting yourself from becoming addicted.
Additionally, exemplify and talk to your kids about what you would or wouldn’t do in various situations. For instance, if you got an invitation to a party, explain that you would deny it because you don’t know the host and location. Or that you declined a friend request because you don’t know who is behind it. Furthermore, don’t post personal photographs of yourself if you don’t want your kids to do the same.
DON’T become overly controlling
The foundation of a healthy parent-child relationship is trust. So, if you trust your children enough to allow them to use social media, you should trust that they will make good decisions. Furthermore, there is nothing to worry about if you talk to kids and explain healthy social media habits. So don’t check their laptop or phone constantly, don’t stalk them on their page, and don’t question their friends about them. Instead, gain their trust by letting them come to you to tell you about things they do or see on social media. Of course, parents should keep an eye on what their children are doing online, but don’t make it obvious. If you become friends with your kids on social media, do not embarrass them. Avoid liking every image they post, filling them with spam content, or leaving too many comments on their page.
Finally, never post pictures of your kids without their consent.
Kids will know how to use social media if they understand how it works. As a result, when introducing social media to your kids, go with the dos and avoid don’ts of talks. Therefore, start by explaining to your kids the benefits of social media. Talk to them about how it can bring people from around the world together and how beneficial it can be. However, don’t omit the downsides of visibility on the internet. Explain to your kids that if they see what is happening on the other side of the planet, it’s the same with them. Whatever they post or share can be seen by everybody and can make them feel vulnerable and exposed, and even anxious. Explain, for example, how an intimate photograph shared with the world can damage their reputation and affect their future. And how everything that they do on social media leaves a digital DNA.
Sure, we all use social media for one reason or the other. We connect with long-lost friends, look for funny videos to cheer us up, or follow world news. However, as adults, we can have problems knowing when to stop scrolling, so what expectations can we have from kids? If we get lost in the world wide web, how can they not? As a result, it’s our responsibility to control the amount and quality of things our kids watch on social media.
Furthermore, we must always encourage our children not to lose touch with reality. For example, if you’ve just relocated to a new country, don’t allow your youngster to spend the entire day on social media chatting with his old pals. Instead, encourage them to go outside, meet other kids, and make new friends. Talk to them about the importance of one-on-one interactions with people and how much satisfaction it can bring. It’s much nicer to hear someone reply to your question in person instead of waiting for a text bubble to pop up with a cold reply.
You have significantly more experience with social media, so you could teach your children part of what you know. For instance, tell them what information they can and cannot share. Full name, date of birth, address, phone number, or school they go to is information that should be kept secure. You can even configure privacy settings for your children’s accounts and explain why they are necessary. Also, tell kids not to accept friend requests from strangers or invites to groups they don’t know. In addition, tell your kids when and how they should make comments on posts and what repercussions they can have. Explain the emotional and legal consequences of defamation, sensitive language, and bullying. Furthermore, tell your children that social media can be a divisive force and that they should avoid being involved in situations that they do not fully comprehend.
Final words
If introduced at the ‘right’ age, social media can be a great communication tool for our children. Social media can help children connect, build a feeling of belonging, and develop relationships. And, if it is closely monitored by parents and balanced with actual in-person contact, there is almost no risk in using it. Therefore, if you want your kids to benefit from its advantages, follow these dos and don’ts of introducing social media to your kids.
