What Teens Want Parents to Know About Social Media

I came across something that I thought you might be interested in. This is a straight lift from an article I read, so I don't claim any originality, but I found it interesting and something I thought some of you may want to read more about. Here it is:

It's a fact: Kids are on their phones and social media more than ever before. If you're concerned, you're not alone—so are other parents, teachers, and mental health experts. But what do teens themselves have to say about the digital world?

A new book by Common Sense partners and collaborators Carrie James and Emily Weinstein, Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing explores this question. It's an insightful read for parents everywhere looking to help kids navigate our 24/7 connected world.

Here's a brief look at just some of what the book, and teens, have to say …

Social media:

For many teens, technologies are a non-negotiable for friendship preservation. There's no way to opt out without major social repercussions. They wish adults would acknowledge this reality. "I think it would be nice if adults realised that our entire social life is linked to social media. It isn't like when they were kids, where your social times were mostly during school. Nowadays, if you aren't on social media a lot, you won't have as many friends. It's all linked to it."

Friendships:

Teens worry that not being available on social media will jeopardise their ability to make and keep friends: "If I don't stay connected I'm worried I'll miss out on something and won't be as close to them," one 13-year-old said. "If you don't text your friends for a while then they just come up with the dumbest excuse to cut you off," explained another.

While adults may see what looks like thoughtlessness or "phone addiction," teens are often navigating a constellation of hidden social motivations, pressures, and expectations.

Cyberbullying:

Social media enables a host of ambiguous acts that can leave teens anxiously puzzling about others' intentions.

Teens want adults to know that they see online drama is "as serious and harmful" as drama in real life—and at times even worse. If someone wants to be mean, they can be relentless. "Even if you escape it on one platform, they'll probably find their way to the next—and it's just a whole, like, cat-and-mouse game."

Digital footprints:

Adults often assume that teens can control their digital footprints, if only they try harder or act more responsibly. Teens want adults to recognize that they cannot be solely, perfectly in control of their privacy or their digital footprints. "Sometimes we don't have control over social media." Friends or peers can post pictures they do not want online and it's complicated, socially, to ask them to take them down. 

Those are just a few excerpts, but to read and learn more, visit https://www.behindtheirscreens.com.