The rights & wrongs of social media.
I recently attended a festival with a discussion group on Changing Behaviours in relation to young people. Social Media very quickly became the hot topic that all parents wanted to talk about. Many of the parents commented on how it’s so great to come together on this because so often we can feel as if we’re dealing with it on our own. We are all going through the same challenges with our kids in the age of technology. We are in very interesting times where our children are growing up with devices being the norm.
It was great to point out the practicals in how to approach use of devices and social media. Some suggestions were –
- Be aware of the age appropriateness of social media apps
- Have access to passwords and monitor accounts
- Monitor and restrict use, especially in the evening
- No devices in the bedroom, especially through the night
Whilst all of this is important, there is no right or wrong and as parents we mustn’t pressure ourselves to work it all out. When it comes to parenting, there is certainly no such thing as perfection! We (parents and educators) are also learning through all of this and the level of maturity and readiness is going to be different for every child.
What matters more than anything is the relationships we have with our children. Given the opportunity to be with you or with others, more often than not they will choose real person connection. This is what we all innately crave – to be connected to. Seeking connection online is a very poor substitute yet a very real reality and one that is part of the society we live in.
In order to ensure safety online and well-being with online use, connection is key. If we have a solid relationship with our children, they will always have a foundation they can come back to and given the space, they will always talk about their concerns when needed.
By Sara Harris
First-Aid & Well-being Officer
*Image taken from www.familyandmedia.eu