Parenting Tweens to Teens – Social Media Responsibility

Parenting Tweens to Teens – Social Media Responsibility

Hey, girl! Omgoodness, I have sooo much to tell you.

Let’s talk…better yet, hit me up on Insta or Snap Chat?

Do you have a YouTube Channel?

You do! That’s dope.

Hold up, I need to tweet this…

If you’re busy we can Kik it if you still use that.

What?! Don’t you use any of those?

I guess I can message you on Facebook but isn’t that for old people?

Chances are if you have a young person in your care you have heard some form of the conversation above. Alexander Graham Bell had no idea what he started when he invented the telephone. Who knew that it would lead to all this?

Oxford Dictionary defines social media as websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. In short, social media is using various kinds of virtual avenues to meet and interact with other people at will.

In theory, this is a great concept for adults or businesses – for kids – not so much. Social media is like an open door to EVERYWHERE. Most parents simply don’t allow their children to go everywhere. Parents place boundaries, and rules for their children to follow for their own safety at school and at home. The same goes for Social Media. Kids are kids and they do not know how to police themselves.

There are 3 basic questions that I give for tweens and teens when we discuss Social Media Responsibility: Who? What? Why?

Who are you communicating with?

REALLY, do you know this person or group IRL (in real life)? Let me be clear, some young people have a really broad definition of “know” and a skewed definition of real life. I often ask, have you met this person face to face. This helps them to put perspective on if they are communicating with a friend or communicating with a stranger. The second part to this is that many youths consider virtual interactions real life. It is important to express to our young people that although conversations occur via video, instant message or text it is not real life. A virtual interaction can be a complete fantasy for some people.

Your tween or teen needs to understand that just because they are being honest and have no evil agenda there are predators in the world who use social media to build familiarity. They then use the familiarity to prey on young people. Again, emphasize do you know this person – have you met face to face?

Why are you communicating with this person?

Tweens and teens need to be taught to ask themselves why am I interacting with this person? Did this person seek you out? Teen speak: follow you, friend you, tweet, dm, inbox, message or snapchat you? The origin of the encounter is important because our youth need to know that everyone who reaches out to them does not always have a good heart and does not necessarily have good intentions toward them.

The most critical part of social media responsibility is making sure the parent or caregiver is monitoring their young person’s activity.

Here are 3 action steps for parents/caregivers:

1. Instruct them on which sites and apps you allow or do not allow.
2. Enforce your guidelines with a consequence if you see activity that is not permitted.
3. Inspect their phones, computers, emails, apps, social media profiles, and picture galleries.

Social Media isn’t going away anytime soon. Start building a solid foundation in Social Media Responsibility for your Tween growing into a Teen – now!

Let us know. What are your guidelines for social media responsibility? Are they working? Share in the comments below!

MaKisha Reed is a Mother of 5 for 28 years (married and divorced). A former teen parent of twins who defied the odds. She has a B.S. and M.S. A. as well as a national certificate in biblical counseling. Ms Reed is a logophile. She absolutely loves the written and spoken word. Which explains why she is drawn to teach, counsel, write and READ. She would have a home library of she could. She says “My life has been very challenging and I’ve ‘seen it all’. Overcoming many struggles through Christ, I am led to help girls and young women to recognize the greatness within themselves.”

Greater Girls offers Social Media Responsibility, Sexual Safety, Empowerment, Counseling and Etiquette sessions. You can find Greater Girls on Facebook and Instagram or email her GreaterGirls1 at gmail dot com.