Social Media Toolbox

In an everchanging digital world, social media platforms play a significant role in the lives of our children and teens. While these platforms can offer fun and creative ways to communicate, they also come with certain risks that can impact your child's safety and well-being. As parents, it's crucial to understand the potential dangers and take proactive steps to protect our students in the online space.

In this newsletter, we'll cover how to navigate the challenges of social media while ensuring your child's safety, both physically and emotionally. We'll also take a closer look at some of the most popular social media apps used by youth today and provide you with the tools to manage their usage effectively.

The foundation of online safety begins with open and honest conversations. Talk to your child about their online activity and the platforms they are using. Encourage them to share any concerns, uncomfortable situations, or incidents of cyberbullying. By fostering an environment of trust, your child is more likely to come to you with issues they may face online.

Each social media platform has unique features, risks, and privacy settings. Whether your child uses Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, or others, it's essential for you to familiarize yourself with how these platforms work. Learn about their privacy settings, what type of content is shared, and the potential risks involved - such as online predators, cyberbullying, or exposure to inappropriate content.

Many social media platforms have privacy settings that can limit who can view your child's posts and personal information. Teach your child to:

• Set their account to private, allowing only friends or followers they know to see their content.
• Be selective with personal information, including phone numbers, addresses, and other identifying details.
• Regularly review and update their settings to maintain a secure environment.

While it's important to respect your child's independence, it's equally important to stay involved in their online life. Consider periodic check-ins where you review their friends, posts, and the types of interactions they have. Be proactive in ensuring that their social media activity remains safe, respectful, and appropriate.

Encourage your child to be kind and respectful online, just as they would in person. Teach them the importance of:

• Treating others with empathy and respect.
• Reporting inappropriate content or behavior.
• Blocking individuals who engage in bullying, harassment, or other harmful actions.

Cyberbullying is a significant concern, and it's important to watch for signs that your child may be a victim. These signs may include:

• A sudden drop in self-esteem or reluctance to use social media.
• Withdrawal from friends, family, or extracurricular activities.
• Complaints of being harassed, threatened, or bullied online.

If you suspect your child is being bullied, encourage them to speak up and work together to address the situation with the appropriate steps, whether it's blocking the bully, reporting the behavior to the platform, or deleting the social media app altogether.

Excessive use of social media can have a negative impact on a child's mental health, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, and body image concerns. Help your child maintain a healthy balance by setting reasonable limits on screen time and encouraging offline activities, such as hobbies, exercise, and face-to-face interactions.

What your child posts online today can have long-term consequences. Remind them that everything shared online - whether a post, photo, or comment - becomes part of their digital footprint and may remain accessible even if it is deleted. People have lost scholarships and jobs due to their digital footprint. Teach them to think twice before posting and to be mindful of their future self.

Most social media platforms have minimum age requirement (typically 13 years old). Be aware of the legal age limits for different platforms and ensure that your child is not violating these terms. This helps protect your child from inappropriate content and unsafe interactions. Make your child wait until they're old enough and mature enough to handle these social media apps!

With so many social media platforms available today, it can be overwhelming to know which ones your child may be using. Here are some of the most popular apps among youth, along with key features and safety considerations for each.

Instagram is of the favorite social media apps for photo and video-sharing where users can post content publicly or privately, while also following friends, family, influencers, and celebrities' accounts. While it's a great tool for creativity, Instagram has been linked to body image issues and online bullying. It's important to monitor your child's interactions and ensure their account is set to private.

Instagram Safety Features - https://about.instagram.com/safety

Instagram Parent's Guide and Family Center - https://about.instagram.com/community/parents

You know how magicians make coins and cards disappear? Imagine that, but Snapchat allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after a short time. The disappearing feature can make it easier for your child to hide things from you. Despite the disappearing feature, users can still take screenshots or record content. This can create risks for privacy and reputation. Encourage your child to only send snaps to trusted friends and to be cautious about sharing personal information or inappropriate content.

Snapchat Safety Features - https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012304746644-How-do-I-stay-safe-on-Snapchat

TikTok is a video-sharing platform known for short, creative clips. Student use TikTok participate in video trends such as lip-syncing challenges, dance challenges, making videos with green screens, creating videos that showcase their talents, and student are interacting with other people by liking and commenting on videos and sometimes private messaging each other through the app. It has become a major trend among teens, but it also poses risks, such as exposure to inappropriate content or online predators. It is also similar to a black hole, where students often find themselves mindlessly scrolling for hours on end. Setting up privacy settings and monitoring usage is critical, especially given TikTok's algorithm-driven content recommendations.

TikTok Privacy Features - https://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherwishartsmith/2022/11/01/what-you-should-know-about-the-tiktok-national-security-debate/?sh=3809a24c6443

TikTok's Digital Well-being Features - https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/helping-users-manage-their-screen-time

YouTube is a video-sharing platform that allows people to upload, watch, and share videos on tons of different topics. In 2022, 95% of teens turned to YouTube to watch videos. Students use YouTube to subscribe to role models, use their creative skills to create content, pursue their interests, and so much more. While YouTube can be a great platform for educational content, it also has its share of risks, including inappropriate videos or comments. Ensure your child uses YouTube Kids (a child-friendly version) and that their settings are optimized for safety, such as restricting inappropriate content and disabling comments on videos.

YouTube Safety Center - https://www.youtube.com/creators/safety/

BeReal is an app that works like Instagram, where you share photos with friends, except there's a catch. At random times during the day, the user gets a notification on their device that it's time to "BeReal." The user then has two minutes to take a self (front-facing photo) and a back-facing camera picture of wherever they are and whatever they're doing! While this app promotes authenticity, it can also expose your child's location or daily activities to a wider audience. BeReal has a default feature that allows the user to share their location along with their posts. Be sure your child understands the implications of sharing these moments with friends and strangers alike.

BeReal Safety Info. - https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-turn-off-location-on-bereal

Though less popular among teens today, Facebook is still widely used by adults and offers features like groups, messaging, and news sharing. With an older audience, it can expose teens to different types of conversations and content. Ensure that your child's privacy settings are maximized to control what others can see.

Facebook Safety Guidelines - https://www.facebook.com/help/122006714548814

Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows users to play and create games, as well as talk to user with Roblox's chat box. This app is attractive to students because they can join groups of other people who like the same games, follow people, and use their imagination and gaming skills to develop their own virtual worlds. It's extremely popular with children and teens, but it can expose users to inappropriate content (explicit language, violence, and horror images) or interactions with strangers. Make sure you child has the proper privacy settings in place and knows how to report inappropriate behavior.

Roblox Parental Controls - https://corporate.roblox.com/parents/

Twitch is a live-streaming platform primarily for gaming, where users can watch and interact with others ( even strangers) in real time. Users use Twitch to learn from and watch professional video gamers, interact with different streamers, chat with other Twitch users, and even create their own gaming content! It's a popular platform among teens but has been associated with mature content and language at times. Encourage your student to navigate any instances where they come across that content by using their block, report, or unfollow feature. Ensure that your child's account is set to private, and monitor the chats they participate in during live streams.

Twitch Parental Controls - https://safety.twitch.tv/s/article/Guide-Parents-Educators?language=en_US

X (formerly Twitter) is a platform for posting short messages, or "tweets," on various topics. Teens may use X to keep up with the news, trends, or follow celebrities, but it can expose them to inappropriate language, harassment, or cyberbullying. Make sure your child understands the importance of keeping their account private and avoiding sensitive content. Talk to your child about X's privacy settings, so they can stay safe and avoid harmful comments, videos, or other content.

X Safety Center - https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security

Spotify is a music streaming platform that allows users to have access to millions of songs, podcasts, and music artists at their fingertips. A user can stream any song on demand, create playlists, and even follow other people to see what they're listening to. While generally safe, there are still risks involved, especially if your child follows strangers or shares personal information in public playlists or social features. Also, worth noting - Spotify has an explicit content filter available in settings, which can be utilized to block anything that is labeled "E" for explicit. Review your child's account settings and discuss safe online practices while sharing music.

Spotify Safety & Privacy Center - https://www.spotify.com/us/safetyandprivacy/personal-data-collected

Reddit is a forum-based social media site where users can engage in discussions on a wide range of topics. While some subreddits are educational or fun, others can expose users to harmful content. Help your child navigate Reddit by setting restrictions on certain subreddits and monitoring what they're viewing.

Reddit Safety - https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditSafety/?captcha=1

Minecraft is a popular online game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. While it encourages creativity, there are potential risks associated with online interactions. Ensure your child plays in private, monitored servers, and avoids sharing personal information with other players.

As parents, it's essential to remember that one of the most important roles you have is to set boundaries and make decisions that protect your child's well-being - even when those decisions may not be popular with them. White it can be tempting to want to be seen as a friend to your child, especially in today's world where social media is such a significant part of their social experience, your primary responsibility is to be their parent.

This means making choices that prioritize their safety, mental health, and long-term success, even if it means limiting or restricting their access to certain social media platforms. The goal is not to control their lives but to guide them in navigating a complex digital world that can sometimes be overwhelming, dangerous, or even harmful.

If you feel that social media usage is negatively affecting your child, whether through excessive screen time, less physical movement/exercise, exposure to inappropriate content, or a decline in their mental health, it's important to take action! Setting boundaries - whether by limiting screen time, restricting certain apps, or monitoring their online activity - may be necessary to help your child maintain a healthy balance between their digital and offline lives.

Remember, you area not here to be your child's best friend. You are their parent, and part of your job is to ensure they grow up to be well-adjusted, responsible, and safe individuals. Enforcing limits around social media use is one of the most effective ways to help them develop healthy habits and avoid the dangers of online platforms. Trust that, while they may not always understand your decisions in the moment, they will benefit from the structure and guidance you provide.

Your child's safety is a top priority, and it's up to you to make the decisions that help protect them, even if it means saying "no" to something that's popular or widely accepted by their peers. You're doing the hard work of raising a responsible, future-ready individual - and that's something worth investing in!

By staying informed and involved, you can help your child navigate social media safely and responsibly. Our shared goal is to provide them with the tools they need to protect themselves, while also empowering them to use these platforms in positive and meaningful ways. Below are other resources that can assist you in navigating the social media world with your child(ren).

• National Cyber Security Alliance - https://www.staysafeonline.org/
• Common Sense Media - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
• Family Online Safety Institute - https://www.fosi.org/good-digital-parenting-resource/social-media-guide
• StopBullying.gov - https://www.stopbullying.gov/
• Internet Matters - https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/social-media-advice-hub2/
• Parent Support Videos - https://parents-together.org/if-your-kids-have-access-to-social-media-these-9-must-watch-videos-are-for-you/#google_vignette

Social media is here to stay, and while there may be ongoing efforts to regulate its use among teens, parents continue to face the challenging task of staying informed and proactive. By learning about the features and impact of different social media platforms and engaging in open conversations with your child about how they use these apps, what they enjoy about them, and any challenges they may face, you can gain valuable insight into their digital world.

Foster these discussions by setting clear expectations for social media use. One helpful approach is to sit down with your child and go through The Social Institute's Family Social Standards Agreement together. This collaborative activity helps establish mutual understanding and encourages high standards for responsible and respectful online behavior.

As parents and educators, having this understanding allows us to provide better guidance, support, and education for our students. The more you know about their experiences online, the more effectively you can help them navigate both their digital and real-world environments in ways that promote positive growth and strong character.

Thank you for your continue partnership in supporting our CHISD students' safety!

Understanding the demands of busy schedules, we have structured these workshops to be accessible and convenient. Our objective is to encourage parents and community members to participate in virtual workshop sessions. This program is open to parents of all grade levels, ensuring that every family has the opportunity to be involved in their child’s educational journey.

Visit the Bulldog Parent University website: https://www.chapelhillisd.org/o/chisd/page/university

Crystal Binning

Parent & Family Engagement Coordinator

Email: binningc@chapelhillisd.org

Phone: (903) 566-2441, ext. 1964

Website: https://www.chapelhillisd.org/page/parent-and-family-engagement-connection