The Importance of Social Media Safety for Teens: A How to Guide for Parents

The internet is a vast and strange place. You can watch a video of a baby hippopotamus pretending to eat with her mom and somehow end up down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. Despite its nuance, social media has become integral in this day and age to stay connected. This means that as much as we would like to avoid it, our teenagers will be on it. Let’s explore social media safety for teens and tips you can use as a parent that will help protect your teens while keeping communication open.

The conversation about social media safety for teens may begin with an “UGH,” but remember – it’s better to have them informed and maintain open dialogue. Let’s focus on two essential areas: mindful scrolling and social media safety tips.

Mindful Scrolling: More Than Just Memes

With countless weird memes flooding their feeds, we want to ensure teens absorb positive content. Here’s how to approach different types of content:

Concerning Content:
Let’s talk about real examples, like diet culture and body image. There are countless creators offering “nutrition” advice without credentials, mainly promoting dangerous ideas about “being skinny” and skipping meals. While parents might want to jump in with “but you are beautiful the way you are!” try this instead:

• Open a broader conversation about why they feel pressure to skip meals
• Discuss what healthy nutrition looks like
• Offer professional help if needed
• Consider consulting a therapist or nutritionist if patterns persist

Harmless but Strange Content:
Some content might seem bizarre but causes no real harm. For example, I’ll never understand “skibidi toilet” myself, but there’s nothing dangerous about its strangeness. Your teens can often judge these things for themselves. Try to:

• Research trending topics before forming opinions
• Avoid quick judgments
• Offer new perspectives
• Accept that while being called a “sigma” might drive you crazy, it’s actually a compliment… I think!

Essential Social Media Safety for Teens

While technology connects us globally, we must be thoughtful about online communications. Many teens use social media to find like-minded peers worldwide. Instead of jumping to “Dateline” scenarios, try these social media safety tips:

Building Trust and Safety:

• Use relatable real-life safety parallels
• Explain the importance of verifying online identities
• Avoid scary warnings about “creepy old men”
• Encourage video chatting for verifying online friends
• Ask casual questions about their online relationships

Smart Social Media Safety Practices:

• Discuss privacy settings across different platforms
• Talk about what information is safe to share
• Help them understand digital footprints
• Guide them in recognizing suspicious behavior

Creating Open Dialogue:

• Show interest in their online activities
• Ask about accounts they follow
• Discuss videos they watch
• Share your own observations without judgment
• Keep conversations flowing naturally

Balancing Freedom with Protection

Remember that online friends aren’t uncommon in today’s world. Instead of prohibiting these connections:

• Ask questions casually to learn more
• Encourage safe verification methods
• Show interest in their online communities
• Guide them toward safe practices

Putting It All Together

With mindful scrolling and proper social media safety tips for teens in mind, we can help teens use technology healthily. Trust that we’ve taught them how to stay safe, while helping them develop their own opinions and beliefs. This gives them the tools they need to navigate the internet confidently.

The key to social media safety for teens isn’t constant monitoring or strict rules – it’s building trust, maintaining open communication, and helping them develop critical thinking skills. While you might not understand every trend or meme, staying engaged and supportive helps ensure your teen’s online experience remains positive and safe.

Remember: That “UGH” at the beginning of your conversation might transform into meaningful dialogue about their digital world. Keep the door open, stay curious, and guide them toward safe online practices.

To learn more about our approach to working with teens, click here or get started with an appointment.

Becca Adleberg, LPC is a licensed therapist at Therapy for Women specializing in working with teens and young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, OCD, and body image. Learn more about her here.