Be Tech Aware, Mindful, & Safe

While one might say, we are in the business of education, in truth, we are in the business of people - more specifically students. Our number one priority being the health and safety of the children entrusted to us because we know that when students (as is the case with most people) feel welcomed, safe, and secure, they learn better. Still, we do not want to forget this particular business is a special one, as it is a partnership between us, the educators, and you, the parents and guardians. We hope this resource will help all of us keep the young members of our community safe and healthy, particularly as our world grows ever bigger with technology and social media.

Our goal is to have three installments over each month:

• "Be Aware" where we focus on an app or technology and some of the things we should know before our children begin using them.
• "Be Mindful" where we focus on technology or other mediums that can assist us and our children with social emotional wellbeing.
• "Be Safe" where we focus on ways to minimize our digital footprint and protect our children from social media and general practices that could lead to unsafe situation and circumstances.

Fifteen seconds. That is what Tiktok is, 15-second videos that can be created, shared, and discovered by anyone. Officially debuting in 2018, Tiktok is now the second most used app by teens at 67%, beating out Instagram and Snapchat. Reports from 2020 show that more than one third of the US daily users (approximately 18 million users) are 14 years old or younger.

(Sources)

So what should you “Be Tech Aware” about with TikTok?

• Age restriction is 13+; this equates to starting between 7th and 8th grade

• Accounts default to “public,” so anyone can see what your child is sharing

• TikTok Challenges can lead to potentially dangerous outcomes

• Duet lets you have your video playing split-screen or green-screened next to another user's video

• TikTok Stitch lets you incorporate up to 5 seconds of someone else's content into your own TikTok video.

• As with other social media, beware of implication on:

• Inappropriate content

• Cyberbullying

• Peer pressure

What can parents do to counteract some of this?

• Assure your child’s date of birth is accurate within the app

• Enable Family Pairing

• Review privacy settings with your child

• Set Duets and Stitch to Friends only.

• Have open discussions about what they are shared - keep private details private

• Talk about what to do if inappropriate content arises and of the latest “challenges”

• Be mindful of in-app spending

Resources:

• Parent’s Guide to TikTok

• 5 Things Parent Need to Know about Tik-Tok (Updated 2023)

• Is TikTok Safe for Kids?

• TikTok app safety - What parents need to know

• Is TikTok safe for kids? What parents need to know.

There is no timeline for grief; grieving never truly ends. This is perhaps one of the least understood aspects of grief in our society. It seems that most people are anxious for us to put the loss behind us, to go on, to get over it. When a person dies, the death leaves a vacuum in the lives of those left behind. For the student, the grieving process will be re-experienced in some new way at each new developmental level or experience of personal accomplishment.

What we may not realize is Social Media plays both a positive and negative role in this process. A study found that social media provided students with an opportunity to process their emotions, share their thoughts and memories, and find meaning. Whether they send a message to someone lost, share a photo, post a tribute, or just journal about their feelings, they are moving through the grieving process. At the same time, we must keep in mind that for those who experience grief, there are certain times of the year where their grief gets re-triggered. Anniversaries of the death, certain holidays and birthdays are all common events that can cause a surge in grief, but with social media this can occur more randomly. Whether it be the death of a favorite musician, a random photo like a skateboard, or a photo memory that resurfaces, social media can trigger re-grieving. (Sources)

So what do you need to know to “Be Tech Mindful” with Grief?

• Technology and Social Media have become a comfort for adolescence, allowing youth to seek and find like-minded communities that can provide immediate support and strategies for coping with myriad life issues — including death and dying, and grief and loss.

• Technology has provided additional ways to remember and mourn

• grieving online can be both individual and communal

• creating online memorials (e.g., Facebook “In Memory of” pages and Instagram “Insta-Memorials”)

• connecting with family, friends and even strangers without geographical limitations.

• seeking distant or virtual grief counseling

• These tools can provide a supportive and appealing space for young people, but are also almost impossible to monitor and often become rife with random comments.

What should you watch for? - Worrisome Grieving Behaviors

• Isolation or Withdrawal: watch for the student who becomes isolated, drops out of clubs or sports, or cancels events with friends. Early on this is normal but this should not continue.

• Dramatic change in personality or functioning over a long period of time

• Identity change: watch for students who seem to be assuming the identity of the person who died.

• Angry outbursts, hyperactivity, violent play

• Self injurious behavior or other dangerous, risk taking and self destructive behaviors

• Use of drugs and alcohol

• Lack of communication: watch for students who don't want to talk about the loss or exhibit prolonged inability to acknowledge a loss.

Resources:

• When Grief/Loss Hits Close to Home: Tips for Caregivers

• What Not to Say

• Grieving The Death Of A Best Friend As A Teen

• Grief (For Teens)

• 3 Ways to Support Grieving Teens Who Use Social Media

• Grieving on Social Media: Coping With Common Frustrations

• How social media is changing the way we grieve

• Grief and Loss in a Digital World

According to The National Institutes of Health the goal for screen time should be no more than 2 hours a day. Now consider that 51% of parents in the US allow their children 3+ hours of screen time. In addition, the CDC shares children between the ages of 11-14 spend approximately 9 hours each day in front of a screen. (Sources)

Why do you need to “Be Tech Safe” when it comes to screen time? Too much screen time leads to:

• Health

• Irregular Sleep

• Obesity

• Eye strain

• Susceptibility to chronic health conditions

• Lower self-esteem

• Depression and anxiety

• Academic

• Delayed learning in young children

• Loss of cognitive ability

• Impaired academic performance

• Behavior problems

• Materialism

• Impaired social skills

So how can you “Be Tech Safe” when it comes to screen time?

• Model healthy electronic use

• Set aside time to unplug

• Encourage other activities (e.g., riding a bike, reading a book, playing a card game)

• Keep bedrooms screen-free zones

• Avoid eating in front of a screen

• Family dinners without tv or phone

Resources:

• Media Use Guidelines for Teens

• Help Children Reduce Screen Time

• Children and screen time: How much is too much?

• What are the negative side effects of too much screen time?

• The Risks of Too Much Screen Time for Teens