Question: Where can I find a class to take with my teen about proper and safe social media use, how to keep their accounts safe, which setting to have on and off, potential dangers and bad ideas, what is allowed and not allowed, all of it. 

 

Answer: Great question, and great instincts on pursuing a way to do this together. Protecting privacy, adjusting account settings, and balancing the risks and benefits of social media use are all part of “digital citizenship.” Adolescents with high levels of digital citizenship tend to have higher self-esteem and greater support for safe, supportive online behaviors. Parents can play a key role in encouraging their teen’s digital citizenship through discussion and shared learning (like taking a class together!). This can lead to improved digital safety for your teen and reduce the frequency of cyberbullying.  

We’ve identified two engaging, evidence-based resources to help support families to develop digital citizenship skills.   

Digital Citizenship Resources:  

This resource includes a variety of helpful tools for families to promote conversations about healthy media use and digital citizenship. It includes conversation starters, digital citizenship tips, family activities, and other useful resources. One resource they have is a section on free online tools for getting started with technology, which includes information related to privacy, and also includes skills-based learning around navigating email, typing skills and understanding operating systems. 

This free, four-section course created by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has interactive learning modules on digital citizenship for families and teens. While they reference FCPS throughout, the information and skill-building activities are relevant to all adolescents and their families. The first module is for parents only and provides an introduction along with important basics about adolescent screen use. Modules two through four are for teens and parents to work through together: Respect for Self, Respect for Others, and Online Communities and Civic Engagement.  

Resources for Taking Control of Social Media Settings:  

  • Glossary of Digital Media Platforms 
    • AAP’s Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has our own glossary, which provides detailed information about the platforms teens use the most. It covers topics like safety settings and ways to support healthy boundaries around media, as well as a dictionary offering clear definitions of popular terms and phrases used on social media platforms. 
  • Common Sense’s Tips for the Online World 
    • Under “Parent Tips and FAQs,” parents can gain access to many guides tailored to each specific social media platform including information on how the platforms operate, safety, privacy settings, and parental controls.  
  • Parents can also visit individual social media companies’ websites for parental control guidelines and more information specific to each app.  

Recommended Next Steps for Families:  

  1. Review the resources provided above. 
  2. Talk early and often about social media use. Consider using these conversation starters for talking with teens.  
  3. Create a Family Media Plan to facilitate discussion around safe and practical media use that works for your family’s specific needs. 

References 

 

 

 

Age: 13-17 

Topics: Social media class, digital citizenship, online safety, family 

Role: Parent 

 

Last Updated

10/17/2024

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics