Tweens, Teens and Boundaries Online

 

Are your middle grade students on their phones as much as you are? (Are you pretending you're not on the phone?) What are they talking about? 

With email mostly a conduit for school or work, and Facebook/Twitter taken over by parents/grandparents etc., where are the 12-year-olds?

Most of us know about Tik Tok and Snapchat. There's also Houseparty, Omegle, Doublicat/REFACE and a lot more. If your son or daughter is using any of these (and there are many more) you may want to learn about them, too.

That doesn't mean you have to keep up with all the apps (which are changing quickly). It does mean knowing what the apps are, why kids are flocking to them and how they can affect the users can help your son or daughter have a better experience online. 

Whether your middle-grader/teen is texting, microblogging, livestreaming, chatting, meeting or dating on these sites, it's important to know more about where he/she is going online and what the sites are like. You have the right to set boundaries for your kids. You have the right to talk to them about staying safe online--and no one else is going to care about it as much as you do.

For example, a lot of apps are tailored to older teens and aren't appropriate for middle graders. Some are, but need a little direction from parents. There are some great books and articles that can help you, which is why I'm recommending them here.

For a strong overview of best practices and site samples (and no, Facebook and Twitter are not attracting teens and tweens), I recommend Most Popular Apps for Teenagers in 2021.

For a 2019 piece with great tips and insights: 18 Social Media Apps and Sites Kids are Using Right Now

My favorite book about how to help protect kids from online bullying and stay safe online is Kindness Wins by Galit Breen. No matter what your son or daughter is doing online, Breen knows how to help kids navigate any landmines that might be waiting for them.

If you want to share your experiences you've had as a parent of a tween or teen who is online--and what rules you have around it--please feel free to comment here--or write me at jennazark.com.

Scrolling Photo: Nenad Stojkovic