The Truth About Kids and Social Media

Having an online presence is the reality of the time we live in, and being social-media-savvy is part of that reality.

To quote the Washington Post, "social media is one way kids are connecting with one another. And taking away an opportunity for connecting and relationship-forming isn’t our job as parents. Teaching our kids how to do this responsibly and kindly is"

This means that we need to have direct conversations with our kids about the kinds of comments that are okay to make. It’s showing them an appropriate comment and an inappropriate one and having the discussion with them about what makes one okay and the other not. Kids today have a phone tucked inside their thumb-holed sleeves, and if someone bothers them or they’re in a bad mood or their feelings are hurt or their hormones are high, they can text, comment or message their angst instantly without taking the time to cool down.

We need to teach them to take a breath before they post online, just like we teach them to take a breath before they talk back to us, a teacher, a coach or a friend. We need to teach them that not every status needs to be commented on. That not every thought needs to be shared. That not every event needs to be documented. We need to teach them that it’s okay to walk away sometimes, and how to step into and out of a situation as necessary.

The article in the post continues with, "Just like even the nicest of kids will make mistakes, even the savviest of parents won’t be able to keep tabs on everything their kids do on (and off) line. Texts can be deleted. Search histories can be cleared."

We can’t assume that because we check their phones we don’t need to teach our kids how to act kindly online. We can’t — and shouldn’t — parent like we’ll always be there to catch them, because in reality we won’t. Instead, we can teach them how to maneuver kindly online on their own.

Taking this a step further, A recent study found that sexting is the new norm among adolescents, and isn’t reserved just for at-risk teens. Although the study links sexting with later sexual activity, it found that those teens do not necessarily engage in risky sexual behavior later on. The study suggests that sexting, though something to be concerned about, has become today’s new first base. In other words, it’s becoming a part of growing up. “This behavior isn’t always new, it’s just a new medium,” said Jeff Temple, an associate professor and psychologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and the study’s author. “But it’s not safe because it can be shared.So what do parents and educators do with this news? Use it for good, Temple said. “I think the really cool thing about this study in answering the question of what comes first is … this could hold the key to prevention programs.” If a teen is found to have sent a sext, that behavior could be a way to talk to them and promote healthy sexual behaviors, he said.