Digital Citizenship - Advice for Parents

I understand that it can be difficult to keep students offline or not on social media, such is the extreme pressure they seem to be under from the media but please remember that students under the age of 13 should not be on any social media. This is there to safeguard them.

Monitor their behaviour. Don’t just leave them online but remember, you have probably paid for that phone or laptop. If you want to see what they write online, simply ask them to see it. If they refuse then confiscate the device. Students, particularly younger ones, should understand that using their device is a privilege that you allow at home, not a right.

Speak to them about their behaviour online towards others and the way that things can be taken out of context. This is one of the biggest dangers. What you put online now will be there forever. Companies check social media prior to employing someone. No one would want to lose a job for something silly they posted online as a child.

Express your concerns. Have that conversation with your child about online behaviour and what you feel is acceptable.

Check out these 5 tips from Common Sense Media

Create screen-free times and zones.
- Help tweens and teens take breaks from tech by limiting screen time in bedrooms, during study time, or at the dinner table. Consider carving out regular family time when screens are either put away or enjoyed together.
Explore built-in digital well-being tools.
- Together with your kids, check out the features on their devices and in their apps that can help them use tech more intentionally. Consider turning off autoplay functions, limiting notifications from certain apps, using settings that turn off devices at a certain time each night, and more.
Model the behavior you want to see.
- Tweens and teens learn more from watching adult behavior than listening to lectures. Consider how you use your devices and other media, and make changes if your use doesn't follow your expectations for your kids.
Help kids identify healthy behaviors.
- Ask kids to notice their feelings, both physical and emotional, during screen and non-screen activities. Does their heart rate increase when their phone vibrates? Does their self-esteem dip after viewing a friend's Instagram feed? Do they feel good when they get positive feedback on a post? Encourage kids to keep the constructive activities and let go of the rest.
Understand how tech companies make money.
- Along with your tween and teen, research how digital devices, social media platforms, and apps and games get paid. Do they sell ads? Do they sell kids' data? Discuss why companies might want kids to spend more time on their platforms and what tricks they use to keep their attention.