Title: Social Media and Teens: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Kids Safe Online
Author: Educate Empower Kids
Basic Overview:
Social Media and Teens: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Kids Safe Online is a free social media guide for tweens, teens, and their parents who are either just starting to use social media or have been using it for awhile. This guide helps parents and their kids to discuss and then set standards concerning their current and future social media use. It also helps parents and families to protect against the distractions, negativity, and destructive media on the internet.
Parts I Liked Best:
When I found this guide, my primary focus was to better understand and protect my children from some of the risks that are online. However, after reading the book and going through it with my kids, I really loved the section of this book that focuses on the good that can come from social media.
I liked being able to learn and then teach my kids about how to use social media and the technology that we have as “tools and instruments, not just as a way to pacify or entertain us” (Educate Empower Kids). I like that this book helped my kids to see that they are in control and that they have the power to be an agent for change in this world. I think that this guide is not only helpful, but also sends an empowering message to our kids.
3 Great Takeaways:
- It takes the guesswork and uncertainty out of where to begin on the topic of social media use. It can be hard to know exactly where to start when it comes to talking to your kids about their media use. I loved the questions in this book because they covered a variety of topics and made it easy for me to start talking to my kids. They were also very thorough and led to conversations that I didn’t even know I needed to be having.
- It allows you to be proactive. I really love that this book comes with a social media contract, so that you can make a working plan with your child. I feel like so many times as parents we talk with our children about their behaviors, but sometimes we lack concrete steps for improvement and end up slipping into old habits.
- There are meaningful activities to do with your children. I love that this books helps facilitate a real conversation with my kids about these topics; it’s not me just reading a bunch of statistics to my children and then lecturing them on their behavior. It provides really thoughtful activities where you get to listen to your children and let them know you care about what they think. I want my children to know that I value their thoughts and opinions, and this provided that opportunity for me.
What This Book Will Do for You:
As a parent, this book has had a big impact on my life because it has allowed me to have more honest and open communication with my kids about their online worlds. I’ve known for years that the subjects addressed in this book—such as depression, cyber bullyings, suicide, and lack of authenticity—were on the rise. However, I just didn’t have the time, resources, or ability to research and compile the information I needed to have meaningful and productive conversations with my kids about these topics. This book has been so helpful in opening my eyes to issues that my kids are struggling with, as well as areas where they can be a source of help and strength to others.
QUESTION: What is appropriate use and behavior on social media? Do your teens feel the same way? Is there such a thing as too much texting or posting online?
CHALLENGE: It can be challenging to get kids to understand the effect that social media can have on their emotions, and that what they put on the internet is there to stay. Start a conversation with your children this week about their experience with social media.
Edited by Nollie Haws and Kimberly Price.
