In a recent interview with Kennedy Chase at Spectrum News 1 Ohio about the Social Media Parental Notification Act, we talked about whether parents should be concerned about the time their child spends on social media. The short answer is yes. That’s the reason behind legislation that was scheduled to go into effect on January 15, 2024, but, due to the law’s vagueness, a request was granted to tech lobbying group NetChoice to temporarily stop it from being enforced.

The law as written would require companies to obtain parental or legal guardian consent to contractual terms of service before permitting kids under the age of 16 to use their platforms. If that consent is not granted, the company must deny access to the child or teen. 

This new law comes at a time when the Pew Research Center reports that nearly half of parents with teens are highly worried that their child could be exposed to explicit content on social media. Secondary concerns–but still high on the list–are time management problems and possible mental health issues that may arise from social media use. 

This should be no surprise given that the majority of teens (46%) use YouTube and TikTok daily–some almost constantly–and about half of teens use Instagram or Snapchat at least once a day, according to Pew Research. The problem stems from the fact that the adolescent brain is not fully developed, and for areas such as self-control this may not happen until they reach adulthood. That means the developing brain could be especially vulnerable to the “like” button and other features that promote ongoing scrolling.   

As parents we monitor our kids’ actions to keep them safe in other areas. The same should be true of social media. Open conversation and parental involvement is the best way to keep your kids safe online, and like so much of the parenting we do, this requires time and dedication. The following tips should help.

What Parents Can Do

• Limit your kids’ social media use. Time limits can help your child or teen develop self-control and learn how to use social media moderately–and hopefully responsibly.

• Establish clear parameters. As the parent, you get to decide when your kids can use their devices and the type of content they can access. If they break the rules, there should be consequences, just as there would be anytime they don’t adhere to the expectations you’ve established.

• Be familiar with the technology. If you don’t know how to use the technology your kids are using, it will be difficult to monitor their behavior. Take some time to educate yourself about the devices and sites your children use on a regular basis.

• Insist on having their passwords. When you have access to your kids’ accounts, they are less likely to share inappropriate content. This also helps you monitor what they’re seeing and doing on social media and hopefully whether they’re being exposed to anything that could be potentially harmful.

• Set a good example. It will be difficult to convince your kids to use social media responsibly if they see you constantly looking at your phone or posting inappropriate messages online. If they are not allowed to use their devices during dinner, neither should you. Like you would with anything else, model good behavior for your kids.

• Communicate with your child. Explain to your child or teen how social media platforms work and how they use an algorithm to determine which content to display to users. Your goal is to make them feel comfortable about telling you when something they see or experience is not appropriate. You might even discuss certain situations and how they should respond to them online.

• Watch for signs of trouble. If you notice that your kids’ social media usage is getting in the way of other things, such as adequate sleep, schoolwork, friendships, and other activities, this is a red flag that there may be a problem. If you suspect they crave social media time or can’t stop using it even when they express a desire to, these are also signs that they’ve become too dependent on the technology or that it may be affecting their mental health.

Image by Gary Cassel from Pixabay

Dr. David Lowenstein is a Columbus, Ohio-based psychologist with more than 35 years of experience. He conducts individual, family, and group therapy sessions in his German Village office and also via telehealth. Dr. Lowenstein is also available for expert forensic testimony, and for educational workshops and presentations. He is frequently called upon as an expert source for print, radio, and broadcast media. Contact Dr. Lowenstein at Lowenstein & Associates, 691 South Fifth Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43206, or call 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432.