Social Media Safety for Kids and Teens

By Rebecca Maddrell, MD, Family Medicine

Over the past decade, social media has become a dominant force in modern life. It has changed the way we communicate, share information and interact with the world. It’s also raised new concerns for parents.

About two out of three parents say parenting is more difficult today than 20 years ago. Some reasons for this belief are technology, social media and smartphones.

Because social media is a relatively new phenomenon, many parents aren’t sure how to protect their children.

Risks of social media for kids and teens

The risks to young people from social media vary widely. Social media gives predators an easy way to reach kids and teens.

Strategies these predators use include:

• Luring: A predator establishes a relationship with the young person online and arranges to meet them
• Sextortion: A predator convinces the young person to send a sexually explicit image or video, then threatens to make it public

Cyberbullying is also a risk. Among high school students, about 15% say they’ve been bullied electronically. Social media can also impact teens negatively by:

• Allowing easy access to sexually explicit or violent content
• Creating peer pressure
• Enhancing drama
• Facilitating rumor spreading
• Harming relationships
• Portraying unrealistic views of others’ lives

Negative content can circulate quickly online, without adult oversight and with the power and speed of the internet. This spread can cause self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression. Kids may struggle to fit in with their classmates and friends. In rare cases, young people have ended their lives.

Social media tips for parents

Nearly every child has a smart device or access to one. As a parent, you can monitor your child’s social media access and help them establish good online habits.

The first steps are to understand your child’s online activity and know their online accounts. Other tips include:

• Ask your child to sign a smartphone contract that outlines rules and expectations
• Charge phones in a central location
• Enable privacy settings and parental controls
• Set time limits on smartphone use

Parental control apps can also help you make sure your child is using their smart device appropriately for their age. A wide range of apps are available to:

• Filter out inappropriate content
• Limit screen time
• Monitor texting
• Review websites and apps your child uses
• Track your child’s location when they’re not at home

Parents should also set an example of positive smartphone behavior. Nearly 70% of parents admit to being distracted by their phone when spending time with their kids. By turning your screen off during dinner, family time and while driving, you are modeling how you want your child to behave.

Having “the talk” with your child about social media

Open communication is one of the most important things you can do to protect your child. Not long ago, having “the talk” with your child meant a discussion about sex.

Today, that talk needs to include social media and internet safety.

Make sure your child understands they should:

• Accept friend requests only from people they know
• Avoid posting private information such as their address or phone number
• Block or unfriend anyone who is not using social media appropriately
• Never agree to an in-person meeting with someone they’ve met online
• Set their privacy settings so only friends can see their posts
• Think before they post — some things can’t be erased

If your child observes online bullying, harassment or misinformation, they can help stop it by:

• Blocking the harassers and reporting them on the social media platform
• Calling out the negative behavior and defending the target of abuse, if they feel comfortable doing so
• Not “liking” or sharing harmful content
• Telling a trusted adult

It’s also essential for young people to not measure their life by what they see online. People only post the good things, but that’s not the whole picture.

What to do if your child experiences cyberbullying

Online bullying is often difficult to detect because it happens where adults can’t see it. Many people find it easier to bully online because they are removed from the person they are targeting.

Signs your child may be a target of cyberbullying include:

• Avoiding school
• Behavior changes such as depression, anxiety, anger or frustration
• Changes in eating or sleep patterns
• Secrecy about online activities
• Stops using their device unexpectedly

If your child is being bullied, let them know that it’s not their fault and they are not alone. Help them assess the situation and plan out a potential solution.

Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying leaves a trail. Save posts or texts and take screenshots to document the harassment.

This evidence will be useful if you decide to notify your school or law enforcement. Find additional information and resources on cyberbullying from stopbullying.gov.

Loyola Medicine: Helping keep kids and teens safe on social media

At Loyola, internet and social media safety is a component of your child’s routine checkups. Our knowledgeable and caring primary care providers offer an open environment to start a discussion with your child about their social media use. You can also talk to us about any concerns you have.

Our primary care offices are located throughout Chicago’s western and southwestern suburbs and are accepting new patients. To make an appointment today, call 888-584-7888 or schedule an appointment online.

Rebecca Maddrell, MD, is a family medicine physician at Loyola Medicine. She practices at the Loyola Center for Health at Gottlieb. Dr. Maddrell is passionate about family medicine where she has the opportunity to take care of patients of all ages. She loves being able to establish close relationships with her patients and watch them grow. Dr. Maddrell also specializes in women’s health.

Dr. Maddrell earned her medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her residency at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois.

Book an appointment today to see Dr. Maddrell or another Loyola primary care provider by self-scheduling an in-person or virtual appointment using myLoyola.

Sources:

• Pew Research Center — Parenting Children in the Age of Screens
• Pew Research Center — Teens’ Social Media Habits and Experiences
• FBI — Scams and Safety. Protecting Your Kids
• CDC – Interpersonal Violence Victimization Among High School Students – Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019
• Cyberbullying Research Center — Cyberbullying Warning Signs
• Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center – Cyberbullying: What Parents Should Know