Social Media Parenting – Part 4

Setting Appropriate Usage Limits

As with any digital pastime, too much social media use can become a distraction, especially for kids. Yet locking them out of the social web (either partially or entirely) would be doing them an educational and cultural disservice. The key is to find balance.

“It’s stunning how many hours per day kids spend with some kind of screen,” said Rayworth. “I think if most families step back and really do the math, they’ll find a lot of consumption even among little kids. One option is requiring that for every hour your kid spends online … they then spend an hour doing non-screen things and hanging out with live people in person. That can be eye-opening.”

“Technology is changing the landscape, the demands, and the context for [children’s] educational experiences,” said Blaney. “Again, without a real understanding and appreciation for how technology is being used and the fundamental impact that it has on their child’s future, parents run the risk of being a hindrance in their teen’s education.”

Be fair but firm, and have a good understanding of the technologies to know when it’s becoming too much.

Good Parenting? There’s No App for That

There will always be a technology and culture divide between parents and children. But with a little extra effort, perhaps it doesn’t always have to be so big.

“Much like driving a car or going off to college, parents have to hope that they have instilled good values and have taught their kids enough to handle situations they will encounter on social media,” said Giarrusso.

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Once again, a special thanks for this great article by Matt Silverman and courtesy of the folks at Mashable.com