Raising Children in the Social Media Age

It wasn't too long ago you only had to keep up with MySpace and maybe Facebook if you happened to be a college student (I know, REALLY dating myself now…I can already hear some of you think “my lord, how old is this guy?!).

Fast forward a couple of years, and now you have Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the latest shiny object…TikTok. (By the way, I was yesterday years old when I discovered you could search TikTok...)

Hey, I get it. It’s a TON. If you are anything like me, you are lucky if you can remember logins for more than one of these platforms at a time.

If you're a parent, and I’m assuming you are given that you are reading this, chances are you've been struggling to keep up with your accounts, all of your child's extracurricular activities, and now their social media usage, too.

It's no secret that social media can be a minefield, and it's tough to know how to keep your children safe while they're navigating it. That's why we've put together this handy little guide on parenting in the social media age. Keep reading to learn more!

Set limits on screen time.

Just like you wouldn't let your kids eat candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you shouldn't let them spend all day on social media.

Yes, your kids are probably going to melt down like Pompei, but you gotta step in somewhere. Might as well pick Normandy to start the battle.

We suggest making sure to set limits on how long they can be on their devices each day, and stick to those limits as much as possible. There are some great apps out there that can help to monitor and limit timing (companies like Bark, Meet Circle, and Family Time are just a few!).

It's okay for kids to have a HEALTHY social media presence within reason. It can be a simple and easy way for your child to stay connected to their friends that they can't see regularly, stay in touch with family, share pics with Grandma and Grandpa, etc.

Need some suggestions for screen time? Check out the little infographic below:

• Under 2 years old, less than one hour per day of screen time

• Between 2 and 5 years old, the kiddo can have up to one hour of screen time

• From 5 to 18 years old, the screen time should be between four and six hours (variable)

• Ages 18 to 21 years old, stick to two hours outside of other screen time requirements (work, school, etc)

Ultimately, it's important for kids to have a balance in their lives, and too much time spent on social media can lead to problems down the road.

Monitor their activity.

Look, no one wants to accidentally stumble across some super awkward tutorials your child is running on the side (those early make-up how-tos on TikTok could be a real nightmare down the road…and we all know you can’t get it back once it’s out there for all of the raging fanbases to see).

It's important to stay involved in your child's online life and know what they're up to at all times, no matter how much they balk. Sure, you have to have some healthy boundaries, but keeping them safe in the online world is paramount (Catfish, anyone?!).

Talk to them about the importance of privacy, and explain that you'll be monitoring their activity to make sure they're staying safe. Many social media platforms have parental controls that you can use to limit what your child can see and do; take advantage of these features!

Teach them about cyberbullying.

Unfortunately, cyberbullying is a reality of the social media age.

It's a terrible thing and can lead to an untold number of consequences, particularly in the mental health of those targeted. Help your child understand what cyberbullying is and why it's wrong.

Teach them how to stand up for themselves online, and encourage them to come to you if they ever feel like they're being bullied. Teaching them to also report when friends are being bullied is also crucial and can even SAVE LIVES.

Cyberbullying is a serious issue, so it's important that your child knows how to handle it if it does happen to them.

Think BEFORE you post.

Let’s say little Suzy or little Johnny is passionate about a particular topic.

Hey, maybe they are working on becoming the next pet/person/environmental advocate. Kudos to them! BUT, they have to learn that passion can sometimes lead to misguided opinions.

Yes, they have opinions.

No, they don’t have to share every single thought they have.

Build the filter. Don’t be a keyboard warrior.

We suggest that if a particular topic comes up and your child wants to share their voice, write whatever it is out and sit on it overnight. Take a look the next day and see what could possibly be misconstrued.

Thoughtful interjections can serve you well.

Passionate posting in the heat of the moment? Well, that can get sideways REAL quick. And once again, remember that once you get that thought out of your head and put it on the internet, you really can't get it back.

Final thoughts:

Parenting in the social media age can be tough, but it doesn't have to be impossible. By following the tips above, you can have a little head start on helping ensure that your child is safe while they're online. And who knows? Maybe you'll even learn a thing or two yourself!