Social media has long been a part of life, and many adults who lose access to it experience depression.
For a teenager, a social media account means no less than for an adult, and restricting access to the Internet is not the smartest decision. The right thing to do is to protect the child.
Experts have shared tips to help make social networks safe for children.
Rules for parents
1. Do not prohibit or discourage from visiting the page. It is better to ask why the child likes this way of life, his feelings, sensations.
2. Teach them to recognize threats in time, talk about bullying and fraud. Be sure to discuss resources that can have a negative impact on the psyche.
Tell us what you can't publish on the Internet:
- address,
- phone number,
- real location data.
Be sure to help create a strong password and enable two-factor authentication.
3. Talk about how social media addiction affects self-esteem and how the photos, lifestyles, and information posted on other people's accounts are often far from reality.
4. Be sure to talk about why it is important to critically evaluate information obtained on the Internet.
5. Teach him to realistically evaluate his achievements and tell him that he should not compare himself with others.
And lastly, there is no need to scare your child by disconnecting the Internet or restricting access to gadgets.
It’s better to explain that in any difficult situation, he will be able to turn to his parents for help.
