Parent/Caregiver Strategies to Reduce Social Media Harms
Learn about online harms that children/teens face 24/7, check out Fairplay's Online Harms Prevention Action Kit
- Dr Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and author of "The Anxious Generation and Dr. Jean Twenge, a research psychologist and author of the books, iGen and Generations, have made recommendations to help parents and caregivers help their kids.
- No Smartphones Before High School. Invest in cell phones/watches with talk and text capability only.
- No social media before 16. Teens/tweens want to use social media platforms because their friends are using them. If parents and caregivers unite and discourage social media use for all kids under 16, peer pressure to use these platforms will be reduced.
- Phone‐free schools. Cell phones are disruptive to the educational environment and can be disruptive during an emergency. More information and resources are available through the Phone-Free Schools Movement. The National School Safety and Security Services recommends that school administrators and crisis team members have cell phones, but student use of cell phones can lead to telephone systems overload, unintentional spread of misinformation (rumors) and possible delays in school evacuations and other emergency responses.
- Request schools and after-school activity coordinators not to use social media platforms for school announcements (including extra curricular activities), teacher homework assignments, etc.
- No Cell Phones in Bedrooms to promote sleep. Adequate sleep is essential to teen's mental health. Removing distractions that keep them awake can help.
Online is "Real Life."
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About Social Media Harms
Our Vision
The mission of Social Media Harms is spread awareness regarding online harms and to promote U.S. state & federal regulations that require technology companies to design products with the highest possible privacy and safety features by default.