How to Talk to Your Teen About Social Media Safety
In this post, we are learning effective ways on how to talk to your teen about social media safety and create healthy boundaries. Help your teen navigate the digital world safely with these tips.
You’re the ultimate guide to helping your teen master the online world. Let’s face it, the internet can be a bit like the Wild West for teens, and they need a savvy sidekick to show them the ropes. As a digital parent, you need to do your checks and balances to help these teens navigate online. Regular, laid-back chats about social media can make a world of difference, helping your teen become a smart and responsible digital citizen.
Here are some tips and tricks to keep your teen safe and sound online:
How to Talk to Your Teen About Social Media
Tip 1: Be a Safe Person for Your Teen:
Are you a friend to your teens?
Most of the time, we get so busy with work and other important issues that we neglect our teens. Where I come from, it seems normal for dads, especially, to forget their kids birthdays. Haha, there is no excuse today as a digital parent to neglect or loose guard on your kids, especially with regard to social media.
When your teen sees something online that makes them uncomfortable, you should be the first person they want to tell you about it. Provide that avenue for them.
Say, “Please come to me with questions about something you saw online that you have questions about.”
Mind you, the goal is not to police their online activity but to support and help them understand what they are seeing online.
Tip 2: Accept Your Teen as “The Social Media Expert”
Boomers and Gen X parents have problems with the way their kids use technology (social media). Allow them. As a parent, there is no way to keep up with the latest social media trends, especially if you aren’t social media savvy yourself.
When it comes to all the different apps and platforms, your child will probably be “the social media expert” in your family.
The best thing to do is to try and learn from them. Try asking your child questions and trying to understand what social media provides them; there are often lots of positives we don’t see. Ask them to show you posts or ads that they like, and ask them to tell you why they like them.
Try not to focus too much on the right words or lingo; what’s essential is that you are talking with your teen.
Tip 3: Help Your Teen Talk About What They See Online
We have no control over what our teenagers view on social media. Developing your teen’s critical thinking abilities can go a long way toward helping them become aware media consumers. This is a reasonable objective for parents to set for them.
Speak with your child about their internet activities, which might come across as clumsy and awkward. Helping your teen practice applying critical thinking to filter through online communications is the best approach to promoting their online safety.
Here is something you can do to get started:
Pick a post or online ad to begin the discussion. Try asking your teen some of these questions:
- What is the meaning of this post or ad?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Who is being excluded?
- What message are you getting from it?
- How does it make you feel and think?
- Do you think the message is true? Why?
Listen carefully, and let your teen do most of the talking. Don’t worry if this discussion is very short; teens often prefer short, useful conversations.
Thank you, child. Keep it simple. “Thanks for talking with me about this.”
Try to be as friendly as you can.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Social Media
Conclusion
Your teen looks to you as the primary source of knowledge and as the one who has the most effect on their lives. We want to remain receptive and focus more on listening than talking throughout these exchanges. You and your teen will develop a stronger sense of trust and understanding as a result. Your relationship with your teen contributes to their safety!
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