Social Media and Teens ! It won’t be a misnomer to say that we are living in the day and age of social media. People across age groups seem to be besotted with social media, especially the younger lot. Almost everywhere, teens seem to be addicted to their mobile phones, courtesy- social media platforms. It is no wonder, then, that parents are a worried lot nowadays.
Just like every kind of new technology, there are pros and cons of social media. For example, cyberbullying is an issue. Similarly, privacy concerns are another thing that parents worry about; teens are not mature enough to know about the kind of information that they can share and what should be kept private.
There are also chances of teens being exposed to inappropriate content. Another major emerging issue is that of social media addiction among teens. They don’t seem to be interested in anything happening in the real world. Their lives seem to be dictated by peering into either mobile phones or laptops. Excessive screen time is also linked to anxiety and depression in adolescents.
Set clear-cut boundaries
Steps like stopping your kids from using social media will not work. They could have a reciprocal ‘rebel’ effect. Remember, teenagers like to believe that they are just as mature as adults and would not find it wrong to use social media. The best way is to have certain rules of the house, specifically on social media. Know your boundaries on Social Media and Teens be very cautious about it.
For example, you can restrict the duration of use of social media for everyone in the house, including the parents. Similarly, you can make sure nobody uses mobile phones or laptops 3- 4 hours before bedtime. The dining table is another place where you can bring in this rule of not using mobile phones.
Build trust through proper communication
It is important that you spend quality time every day with your kids (Know to improve your communication). Use a non-judgmental approach so that children don’t hesitate to share their problems with you. Talk to them about the various apps that they are using. Get to know the kind of content that they are watching regularly.
One thing to remember here is to monitor, but also build trust at the same time. For example, do use parental controls wherever you feel it is required. Teach them about things such as blocking harmful users and privacy settings.
Be a good role model
This is something whose importance cannot be overemphasized. You can be preaching to them about reducing screen time while binge-watching videos on your laptop or mobile phone all day long. It simply doesn’t work that way. As a responsible parent, you have to set the right example. Limit your screen time, and they are bound to listen to you.
Discuss the latest online trends with them regularly and explain how they can utilize social media to their benefit. Tell them about certain types of content being consciously pushed online, targeting teens. This kind of education will help in developing their critical thinking skills.
At the school, our teachers guide students on using social media responsibly. It is needed to have a good clarity on Social Media and Teens. The emphasis is on helping them gain awareness about maintaining privacy online and engaging online safely and respectfully.
