Parent to Parent: Protecting Our Kids Online
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Now that I’m back in middle school, one area I’m especially passionate about is helping parents understand the dangers of social media for our kids.
I have a 12-year-old son who rides the bus, so we got him a cell phone—but it’s locked down. He has no social media, limited internet access, and his phone charges in the kitchen at night. I also check his messages to see what he and his friends are saying.
Unfortunately, many kids don’t have these limits. They’re on TikTok or other platforms by lying about their age, posting and watching content they’d never show their parents, staying up late online chatting with anyone and everyone, and being exposed to tremendous amounts of negativity and hate.
With most students now having phones, it’s crucial that we monitor their usage and exposure. If we don’t, the internet will gladly teach our kids—and not always what we want them to learn. The psychological and social effects can last far longer than the device in their hands.
For more information and statistics on teens and social media, here’s a great resource from the state of Utah:
Social media can connect us to a world of opportunities, but what if it’s harming our children?
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