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5 Answers You Need About Your Teen’s Social Media Use

Nowadays it seems like teenagers are born with an extra appendage attached to their fingertips. You know what I mean. That iPhone they just can’t seem to look up from may as well be a part of their bodies!

Spending too much time using social media may be detrimental to your child’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It’s important that parents be aware of their child’s social media usage and habits, especially if it has become a huge part of their lives. Asking these five simple questions about your teen’s social media use will help you determine whether they have a healthy balance between virtual friendships and face-to-face interactions.

Is your teen vain?

Because of the ability teens now have to speak to hundreds or thousands of people at a time, vanity has become one of the biggest side effects of social media. Take a look at your teen’s Instagram account. How many selfies do you see? What are the captions? Check out their Twitter and Facebook accounts. How often do the status messages or tweets reveal vanity or a self-centered mindset? Pictures, tweets, and status updates can give unique insight into what is going on inside your teen’s head and heart. Discuss with your teen what they think pride is and what the real world consequences are. Share with them what humility means and the value of living a life that isn’t focused on self.

Is your teen a gossip?

Oftentimes social media provides an environment for people to say things they wouldn’t say to someone’s face. Hiding behind a keyboard can give people a false impression that their words don’t have consequences because they aren’t a part of “real life.” If your teen’s online life seems like a reality TV show full of drama and quarreling, don’t just brush it off as a nonissue. Gossip can destroy relationships and lives.

Is your teen over-sharing?

One of the great things about social media is the ability to keep in contact with old friends and also to get to know someone you might have just met. People will often base their perceptions of your teen on what they post online, whether they be another teen, a parent, or a potential employer. Honesty is great, but over-sharing is not. It is not a good idea to take private family matters public, vent about relationship problems, share pictures that may be embarrassing in the future, or post passive-aggressive status messages like I can’t believe the nerve of some people, you know who you are. Teens need to understand that what they post online now could follow them for the rest of their lives.

Is your teen incessantly checking their phone?

This is a biggie and not just for teens. Even I can sometimes be too attached to my phone though it’s usually because I’m trying to stay connected with my kids! While it’s good to be reachable and polite to respond promptly to messages, you should be concerned if your teen is constantly checking their phone. There should be times and places where cell phones are not allowed. It is not necessary to be in unbroken connection with online followers. Put the phone aside for family dinner. “BAE” can wait.

Is your teen anti-social?

One of the potential issues with social media is that communication via texting and instant messenger may cause problems with keeping up a conversation face-to-face. Frequently, teens use various forms of text and online messaging to have shallow conversations with multiple people at the same time, making it difficult to focus on a single substantial conversation. Ironically, it’s possible to be in constant contact with hundreds of “friends” and still feel alone which can cause your teen to seek out increased yet still insignificant online attention. Unfortunately, while it can be a great tool, social media can also have the opposite of its intended effect and make relationships less fulfilling. More “friends” does not necessarily mean close friends.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be necessary to intervene in your child’s online social life. Help your teen maintain healthy relationships…both online and in person. Begin by using this social media contract. Also, download our Q & U app for more questions to ask.

How does your family maintain a healthy balance with social media?

ASK YOUR CHILD...

What do you think the consequences of being prideful are?

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