Social media is a dicey issue for adults, let alone for kids. At least as adults we know, in some shape or form, that the world we see through social media isn’t reality. Even though sometimes it can be hard to remember that.
When your kid gets their first smartphone, we know that apps come hand in thumbs with that purchase. Even now social media apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are still in the top 50 downloads in Google Play and the App Store. It’s hard to avoid them, and let’s be real - telling your teen or tween NOT to download them is just giving them one more chance to rebel.
By now we’re all familiar with the risks of social media usage, not just for kids but for adults as well. But it’s not all doom and gloom, there are actually benefits to allowing your kids to use these platforms as well. In this article we take a look at the pros and cons of social media for kids, and pass down some tips on how to encourage your children to use these platforms for the better.
What is a tech website doing giving me parenting tips?
That’s a valid question. Your kids are your own, and at the end of the day, you decide what is best for them. You may decide that the risks of social media outweigh the potential benefits - but technology is part of our lives now. And it is only going to become more prevalent as your children grow up.
We believe that in most cases, technology is just another vector for pre-existing societal problems. Even if you keep your kid off the grid, they can be exposed to the same issues in other facets of their life.
Information provided about potential skills, developmental benefits, and tips for encouraging the beneficial skills linked to social media all come from our Content and Social Media Editor, Anula Wiwatowska. Anula studied a Masters in Education, but we’ve included additional links throughout if you want more information.
Benefits of social media for kids
Digital Media Literacy
Definition: Digital literacy applies specifically to non-traditional media such as from the internet, video games, or smartphones, while media literacy is about decoding messages distributed through the media and assessing them for accuracy. Combined, digital media literacy is the practice of interpreting digital media and discerning its accuracy and contextual implications.
Skills learned: Problem-solving, civic engagement, fact-checking, research
Developmental benefits: Language and literacy, Cognitive development, analytical thinking
The term ‘fake news’ is omnipresent online, and it can be difficult for people to identify a trustworthy source on the internet. Just because it comes from a website doesn’t mean that it’s true. The mass of information online, particularly those disseminated through social media can be a minefield of inaccuracies.
Social media teaches children to identify news and information distributed by reputable sources. A skill that we wish more adults had, to be honest.
How to encourage digital media literacy in kids using social media
There’s no point assigning more homework to your kids, but it can be beneficial to just discuss current events with your children in the context of social media. You could ask them what people are saying about Pride Month on TikTok, or query if they’ve seen any articles about it on Facebook. This can be a great starting point for a conversation and may allow you to point out potential inaccuracies being spread on these platforms.
Collaborative learning
Definition: Collaborative learning is a blanket term used to describe any kind of learning done by joint effort.
Skills learned: Teamwork, emotional resilience, cooperation, empathy, leadership
Developmental benefits: Language and literacy, social skills
No man is an island, and in the real world, we spend most of our lives working in teams. Be that professionally, or working with your family or friendship group, life takes compromise and cooperation.
Studies have shown that the more children interact in collaborative learning online, the better their attitudes are towards technology. Especially now, the vast majority of the work and communications we have as adults is online. While brainstorming online can be tricky for us all, being able to effectively communicate and put your ideas across is an important part of any team environment. Starting at a relatively young age, social media can help children to learn to contribute virtually in addition to learning to do so in person.
Of course on social media, it may be a school setting, or it may just be collaborating with other users on an issue or an idea. Either way, working together is crucial whether it is done behind a keyboard or to someone’s face.
How to encourage collaborative learning in kids using social media
School, especially if there is some aspect of online learning involved, is a fantastic place to start with this. You might simply ask your kid what they added to the discussion during online learning.
Or, if your child isn’t exactly forthcoming about school work (which ones are really?), then you could talk to them about an online game they’re playing. Teamwork and strategy are key for a lot of online gaming - they may be keener to give you a play by play of their win in a battle royale.
Creativity
Definition: Using your imagination to make something, or develop an idea or concept.
Skills learned: Expands understanding of the world around them, problem-solving, lateral thinking, self-expression, communication.
Developmental benefits: Emotional regulation, cognitive perception, strategic planning.
The idea that creativity is good for kids isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but social media plays a big role in allowing that creativity through a digital medium.
Apps like TikTok and Instagram encourage children to look at ideas through a visual lens. These platforms teach children visual storytelling, and empower them to follow through with these ideas using the tools at their disposal. Just watch a couple of TikToks and tell me that isn’t creative, but be careful it can really suck your data.
How to encourage creativity in kids using social media
There are thousands of ways to encourage creativity in children, but looking at it through the lens of social media it is easy enough to just be supportive.
Kids will find ways to express themselves, be that through writing or art or film - there is something that calls to pretty much everyone. If your child is showing interest in photography or film you could simply point out things that might be ‘grammable. Let them take it from there.
Mental health and wellbeing
Definition: Mental health and wellbeing is a state when an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses or life, and can work productively and contribute to their community.
Skills learned: Social skills, sense of wellbeing, independence.
Developmental benefits: Emotional regulation, sense of community.
We all want our kids to be happy and healthy, and of course, mental health is a big part of that. These days it is estimated that one in seven children experience mental health issues before the age of 14.
While social media can feel like a cruel place, it also allows children to connect with like-minded people and people who relate to their experiences. It can also present a way for children to engage with their peers in a more comforting way - say that your kid has anxiety and doesn’t like speaking up in class, they may feel better connecting with their classmates online which in turn can ease this in-person anxiety.
How to encourage mental health and wellbeing in kids using social media
There are of course pitfalls to using social media for health and wellbeing. If your child expresses an interest in a certain topic it may be worth doing your own research and suggesting some pages or platforms that are appropriate for your kid, and that you feel comfortable with. Your kid may be really into fitness but you probably don’t want them following fitness influencers incessantly.
Risks of social media for kids
Cyberbullying
Definition: Bullying done through online means.
Ramifications: Low self-esteem, poor mental health.
Kids can be so cruel, and through the guise of a username and keyboard, they can be even worse. Worse still, this cruelty can now traverse international borders because of the omnipotence of the internet.
Cyberbullying is an unfortunate side effect of social media. Where you expose yourself online, be it through photos or the written word, there will be trolls to cut you down. No one is safe from bullying online, but it makes sense to want to protect your children.
How to protect kids against cyberbullying on social media
Unfortunately, you can’t stop mean people saying mean things, but you can teach your children not to pay them too much mind. A good rule of thumb is to never read the comments, but if you can’t do that then it helps to discuss demeaning comments with your kids.
Whether they're the victim or the perpetrator, it helps to discuss the headspace someone might be in in order to say something cruel to another person. Although empathy as we recognise it doesn't really start to develop until age seven, kids do understand better than you may think.
Inappropriate content
Definition: Content that is offensive, vulgar, or explicit for the audience.
Ramifications: Distress, trauma.
There sure is a lot of weird stuff on the internet, things that you probably don’t want to see let alone your kid to stumble across! With so much content out there it can be easy for children to find the wrong thing, but there are ways around that.
You can always start by looking at parental control options, but there are ways to handle this without monitoring your children 24/7.
How to protect kids against inappropriate content on social media
Education is more important than over vigilance. If you were to go through and unfollow accounts that you don't deem appropriate on behalf of your kid, then they’re just going to go and follow them again as soon as you’re done.
Teach your child how to block people on the platforms, how to report content, and how to unfollow accounts. Encourage them to take ownership over their own social media accounts, and trust that they will make the right choices to get rid of content that they don’t want to see.
Privacy breaches
Definition: Personal information being shared in potentially harmful ways.
Ramifications: Identify theft, predatory behaviour.
Privacy is a hot topic when it comes to technology, and is especially important when it comes to your kids. "Stranger danger" is always a big deal when it comes to your kids sharing personal content online, but most social networks let you have a private profile and some even have settings for children under 18.
How to protect kids against privacy breaches on social media
Generally speaking, encourage your children to only have private accounts on social media. They can browse if they wish, but if someone wants to look at their profile that person will need to send a request. This keeps children’s images and other information away from people they may not know.
Foremost however, you’ll want to have a talk with your kids about their privacy. In the same way that you would tell them not to get in a car with strangers, don’t talk to strangers on the internet. In the same way that you wouldn’t tell a random person where you live, don’t post your personal details on the internet.
Almost every societal issue continues to be translated online, it’s just a matter of addressing both instances to your children so that they know how to handle it if the situation ever arises.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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