SheKnows’ Post

With recent calls to ban social media for kids, I wanted to explain why I think we are making a mistake. I'm concerned the pendulum is about to swing too far and create a generation of 'overprotected' or 'bubble wrapped' kids in the online world. ➡️Who wont be equipped with the tools and knowledge to safely enter the online world when they grow up, or when they inevitably access social media through a friend, sibling, or when their parents are not around. ➡️Instead of banning social media for kids, I think the appropriate response to the online harms (that do exist!) is to actually parent our kids. ➡️This generation of parents have a tough job on their hands because these are new problems we have never learned to face. ➡️But that doesn't mean to solution is to avoid and ban social media, because it isn't going away anytime soon. Imagine how powerful your child could be when they know how to navigate social media in a healthy and productive way, instead of having to sneak around bans and rules to get their fix... ➡️And here's a challenge; for those who are using psychology terminology in everyday settings, e.g. "addiction" or want to "prove" the Haidt hype - in 20 years I haven't found robust research that supports what is being said (hence this post) IF you can provide me with studies to back up your challenge or claim then I can change my mind. ➡️Text based replies do not include my emphasis, tone of voice or way I work IRL; so if I counter your reply then you will read it with your own lens. ➡️I teach parents, carers, teachers and professionals HOW to navigate this new world of social media with their kids so you don't have to ban it from your home and cross your fingers that they'll be okay when they use social media as adults... I've launched a parenting group on my website you can join and learn the tools you need. Link in my bio. #parents #parenting #childrensmentalhealth #screentime #kiddandsocialmedia #kidsandphones #childonlinesafety #onlineharms This post was OP’d in Feb…

With recent calls to ban social media for kids, I wanted to explain why I think we are making a mistake. I'm concerned the pendulum is about to swing too far and create a generation of 'overprotected' or 'bubble wrapped' kids in the online world. ➡️Who wont be equipped with the tools and knowledge to safely enter the online world when they grow up, or when they inevitably access social media through a friend, sibling, or when their parents are not around. ➡️Instead of banning social media for kids, I think the appropriate response to the online harms (that do exist!) is to actually parent our kids. ➡️This generation of parents have a tough job on their hands because these are new problems we have never learned to face. ➡️But that doesn't mean to solution is to avoid and ban social media, because it isn't going away anytime soon. Imagine how powerful your child could be when they know how to navigate social media in a healthy and productive way, instead of having to sneak around bans and rules to get their fix... ➡️And here's a challenge; for those who are using psychology terminology in everyday settings, e.g. "addiction" or want to "prove" the Haidt hype - in 20 years I haven't found robust research that supports what is being said (hence this post) IF you can provide me with studies to back up your challenge or claim then I can change my mind. ➡️Text based replies do not include my emphasis, tone of voice or way I work IRL; so if I counter your reply then you will read it with your own lens. ➡️I teach parents, carers, teachers and professionals HOW to navigate this new world of social media with their kids so you don't have to ban it from your home and cross your fingers that they'll be okay when they use social media as adults... I've launched a parenting group on my website you can join and learn the tools you need. Link in my bio. #parents #parenting #childrensmentalhealth #screentime #kiddandsocialmedia #kidsandphones #childonlinesafety #onlineharms

Parents Beware! Our Children Are Being Manipulated: Unveiling the Ways and Sources In today's digital age, parental vigilance is more crucial than ever. Our innocent children are constantly under the influence of manipulation from various sources. It's time to shed light on these tactics to protect their well-being! Here are some ways and sources through which our children are being manipulated: 1. Sneaky Advertising Techniques: Companies use cunning strategies to grab our children's attention and influence their desires. Advertisements in games, online videos, and even on their favorite TV shows can subtly shape their preferences. 2. Social Media Influence: Peer pressure, body image ideals, and materialistic values are amplified through social media platforms. It's essential to educate our children about the potential pitfalls and encourage critical thinking before accepting everything they see online as reality. 3. Unhealthy Food Marketing: Food companies often target children through appealing packaging, enticing mascots, and persuasive commercials. This can lead to unhealthy eating habits and an inclination towards processed and sugary foods. 4. Influencer Culture: Influencers who promote harmful practices or unrealistic beauty standards can have a significant impact on our children's self-esteem and behaviors. Engage in open conversations with kids about the influence of social media personalities and help them distinguish between genuine advice and manipulative content. 5. Online Gaming Networks: Multiplayer gaming platforms can expose our children to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and addictive behavior. Stay involved in their digital activities, set screen time limits, and monitor online interactions to keep them safe. 6. Manipulative Peer Pressure: Children may face pressure from their peers to engage in risky behaviors like vaping, substance abuse, or dangerous dares. Keep the lines of communication open, establish trust, talk with them, and educated them on making informed choices. Here are some suggestions for you to help empower, educate, and protect your child: 1. Engage in regular conversations with your child about the media literacy and digital influence. 2. Monitor their online activities,set boundaries, and encourage healthy screen time habits. 3. Foster critical thinking skills and cultivate self-esttem, so they are less susceptible to manipulation. 4.Advocate for stricter regulations on marketing directed at children and adolescents. 5. Be a positive influence and role model by practicing and promoting responsible media consumption. Together, we can shield our children from manipulation and empower them to make informed choices that shape their future! Credit: @thatsdax #protectourchildren #parentingindigitalage #stayvigilant #medialiteracymatters #empowerKids  #ourchildrendeservebetter #unitedstates #letsstandtogether #united #wecanstopthistogether

Spotting red flags in your teen's digital life? From disrupted routines to excessive screen time, know the signs of problematic social media use. Stay vigilant, initiate open conversations, and seek support when needed. Together, we can ensure a balanced digital journey for our teens. See more from APA's health advisory on social media use in adolescence: https://at.apa.org/yd6 #socialmedia #parenting #teens #kids

Great information in this article from American Psychological Association on how to identify the #warningsigns of unhealthy social media use in #teens! Give it a read! This is very relevant information ⤵️⤵️⤵️

As a parent, I'm concerned about our children's well-being in this ever-changing digital world. The challenges of digital parenting are endless – deciding which apps to allow or block, whether to monitor online communication, and grappling with the question of screen time. How do we define a "friend" in this new context? Should we permit certain social media accounts simply because everyone else has them? Being labeled a 'boomer' for using Facebook, which apparently is for old people, I can't help but wonder how can we strike a balance between protecting our children from the potential dangers of social media and the risks we ourselves never encountered, while still empowering them to explore their digital world with independence and freedom? How do we guide them to make informed decisions as they navigate the uncharted waters of their online lives? https://lnkd.in/eYtV8eA4

No One Knows Exactly What Social Media is Doing to Teens (The Atlantic) https://lnkd.in/e4E64EWB 💡Subscribe to our newsletter here: http://gimbhi.substack.com #mentalhealth #socialmedia #digitalhealth

Wanna bet who will win the social media wars? Check out my latest opinion article in the Washington Examiner. With New York jumping into the battle between parents and social media advocates on the side of parents, it has joined an increasing number of states that include Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, California, and Florida. No less an authority than the U.S. Surgeon General has recently labelled social media a danger and suggested that Congress consider tobacco-like warnings given the increasing correlation between the use of social media and harm to young people’s mental health. Recent statistics reveal increasing incidents of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and addiction, not to mention cyberbullying. Between 2007 and 2018, a period that experienced a meteoric growth in the number of social media users, suicides between the ages of 10 and 24 reportedly increased nearly 60% . Since enacting the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (1998) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (2000), Congress has largely been missing in action as social media has all but supplanted parents’ roles by addictively subjecting their children to an emotional bombardment that some argue their brains are just not yet equipped to handle. While issues must be packaged certain ways for the courts, society should not necessarily be shackled to those frameworks when balancing the pros and cons of social media in our day-to-day lives. Whatever damage that social media can inflict should be viewed as much as a people problem as a technological one. That means finding and deploying ways to convince, control, or incentivize people, businesses, and other nations to be responsible and civil, or suffer the consequences.    https://lnkd.in/eDG9r27i

While the media reports yesterday about many teens using social media “constantly” raise concerns, there are two hopeful factors: 1. Many adults are also online constantly, both for work and personal reasons. We have the opportunity to model responsible and safe behavior online. Just telling a kid to “stop watching YouTube so much” (while simultaneously texting someone) will come across as hypocritical. 2. Health professionals are starting to bring up social media use during visits with patients. Talking about the issue openly is the first step to improve the situation. For more information on this topic from the AAP, see: https://lnkd.in/eht7uE-v

This past week’s call by the U.S. Surgeon General for tobacco-style warning labels on social media products is the latest chapter in one of the defining corporate justness narratives of our time: the impact of social media on the mental health of children and teens. It’s something that we at JUST have grappled with over the years. Public polling suggests that 86% of Americans are concerned about the impact of social media on children; that 50% of parents of children younger than 18 feel their child’s #mentalhealth has suffered because of social media use; and 83% of likely voters believe social media companies should be required to protect minors on their platforms. Read our latest JUST Report to learn more about the issue, and sign up to receive it in your inbox every Friday: https://lnkd.in/dq6AyHqF