How to Talk to Your Children About Social Media Use and Safety

A guide for parents to teach kids responsible and safe social media habits

Start early and maintain an open dialogue

Initiate conversations about social media use and safety as soon as your child shows interest in using these platforms. By establishing an open dialogue, you create a comfortable environment for your child to discuss their experiences and concerns. Keep the conversation ongoing and be prepared to discuss new platforms, updates, or changes in their social media habits.

• "I noticed you've been spending some time on [platform]. Can you show me how it works and what you like about it?"

• "Some of your friends are using social media. Have you ever felt curious or interested in joining them? If so, which platforms are you most drawn to and why?"

• "Have you ever come across something online or on social media that made you feel uncomfortable or confused? How did you handle it?"

• "What do you think about the way people portray themselves on social media? Do you feel like it's an accurate representation of their lives?"

• "Have you ever seen or experienced cyberbullying, either directly or indirectly? How did it make you feel, and what would you do if it happened to you or someone you know?"

• "What kind of information do you think is safe to share online? Are there any types of information you should never share on social media?"

• "How do you feel about the amount of time you spend on social media? Do you think it's essential to have a balance between online and offline activities?"

Set ground rules and boundaries

Together with your child, establish a set of ground rules and boundaries for social media use, including time limits, appropriate content, and sharing guidelines. Encourage your child to think critically about the information they share and remind them that once something is posted online, it's challenging to remove it completely.

Here are some specific examples of ground rules you can establish with your child for social media use:

• Age restrictions: Ensure your child is old enough to join the platform, as many sites have a minimum age requirement (e.g., 13 years old for Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat).

• Time limits: Set daily or weekly time limits for social media usage, such as no more than an hour per day or designating specific times when they can access their accounts (e.g., after homework is completed).

• Device-free zones: Establish device-free zones in your home, such as the dining room, to promote family time and face-to-face conversations.

• No sharing of personal information: Your child should not post any personally identifiable information, like their full name, home address, phone number, or school name.

• Privacy settings: Require your child to use the highest privacy settings available on each platform, limiting who can view their content and send friend requests or messages.

• Content guidelines: Set rules about the type of content your child is allowed to post or share, such as no violent or explicit material and no photos or videos without the consent of everyone involved.

• Friend and follower limits: Establish guidelines for adding friends or followers, such as only accepting requests from people they know personally.

• Parental access: Require that your child shares their account login information with you or allows you to follow or be friends with them on the platform.

Encourage critical thinking and media literacy

Teach your child to question the information they encounter online and to be skeptical of unverified sources. Encourage them to consider the motives behind a post, image, or video and to evaluate its credibility.

Teach your child to question the source

Encourage your child to always consider the source of the information they encounter online. Help them understand the difference between verified and unverified sources and teach them to look for signs of credibility, such as author credentials, citations, and reputable website domains.

Discuss the purpose and motive behind content

Guide your child in identifying the purpose and motive behind a post, image, or video. Encourage them to ask questions such as:

• What is the intended message of this content?

• Is the content trying to persuade or influence me in some way?

• Is the content promoting a specific agenda, product, or viewpoint?

• Could the content be biased or misleading?

Identify and analyze persuasive techniques

Teach your child to recognize persuasive techniques used in digital content, such as emotional appeals, fear tactics, and exaggerated claims. Discuss how these techniques can be employed to manipulate opinions and influence behavior.

Verify information before sharing

Encourage your child to fact-check information before sharing it on social media. Teach them to consult multiple sources and look for evidence that supports or contradicts the information. Introduce them to fact-checking websites and tools, such as Snopes or FactCheck.org, to help verify claims and debunk false information.

Recognize and avoid clickbait

Explain the concept of clickbait to your child and how it's designed to generate views and shares by using sensational headlines or images. Teach them to be cautious of such content and not to share or engage with it without first verifying its accuracy.

Encourage empathy and understanding of different perspectives

Promote empathy and understanding by discussing how different perspectives can influence the way people interpret and share information online. Encourage your child to consider other viewpoints and to engage in respectful conversations with others, even when they disagree.

Foster a healthy skepticism

While it's essential to maintain an open mind, teach your child to approach information on social media with a healthy level of skepticism. Encourage them to be critical consumers of content and to ask questions before accepting information as true.

Monitor your child's social media use

While it's essential to respect your child's privacy, monitoring their social media use can help ensure they're following the established rules and staying safe. You can achieve this through regular check-ins or using parental control tools that allow for non-invasive monitoring.