50 min listen
Ask Amy: What Age Is Old Enough for Social Media?
FromWhat Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
Ask Amy: What Age Is Old Enough for Social Media?
FromWhat Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
ratings:
Length:
8 minutes
Released:
Aug 28, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
At what age are our children ready for the sometimes shark-infested waters of social media? What limits can we set and tactics can we use to keep them safe while allowing them to communicate with their friends and stay connected?
Megan sent an email to questions@whatfreshhellpodcast.com to ask:
"I’m getting so worried about social media as my kids grow older. As a mom of three (ages 9, 12, and 14), I find myself at a loss when it comes to navigating this digital landscape. My oldest, who is in 8th grade, is starting to express a desire to get social media. She keeps talking about how all of her friends have it. However, I can’t help but worry about the unrealistic standards it sets, and how that could affect her development and self-esteem.
Am I crazy for not wanting her to get Instagram and Tiktok? I want her to grow up like an average kid and not miss out on things her friends are doing. I just wish social media wasn’t so toxic, especially for girls."
Your kid is likely telling the truth when she says that most of her peers are on social media. That doesn't mean your concerns as a parent for her safety and privacy aren't incredibly valid.
Social media doesn't have to be an either absolutely-none or no-holds-barred decision. Privacy settings, and controlling what your child is posting, give you some control. It's possible to start with tighter reins and more oversight and then slowly let out the slack line.
Take the particulars of your own kid into consideration. You know what's right for your kid. Set the rules you want with an open dialogue, rather than have it become something that your daughter can't talk about with you at all.Approaching social media with your child, rather than forbidding until she figures out how to do it behind your back, is probably the better option.
Links to resources Amy mentions in the episode:
Wait Until 8th: https://www.waituntil8th.org/
Devorah Heitner's book Growing Up In Public: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593420966
Bark.us (use this code for a free trial: https://www.bark.us/?ref=2R4XYRK)
Special thanks to our sponsor, Pampers:
For trusted protection, choose Pampers, the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand. Download the Pampers Club App today to start earning free diapers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Megan sent an email to questions@whatfreshhellpodcast.com to ask:
"I’m getting so worried about social media as my kids grow older. As a mom of three (ages 9, 12, and 14), I find myself at a loss when it comes to navigating this digital landscape. My oldest, who is in 8th grade, is starting to express a desire to get social media. She keeps talking about how all of her friends have it. However, I can’t help but worry about the unrealistic standards it sets, and how that could affect her development and self-esteem.
Am I crazy for not wanting her to get Instagram and Tiktok? I want her to grow up like an average kid and not miss out on things her friends are doing. I just wish social media wasn’t so toxic, especially for girls."
Your kid is likely telling the truth when she says that most of her peers are on social media. That doesn't mean your concerns as a parent for her safety and privacy aren't incredibly valid.
Social media doesn't have to be an either absolutely-none or no-holds-barred decision. Privacy settings, and controlling what your child is posting, give you some control. It's possible to start with tighter reins and more oversight and then slowly let out the slack line.
Take the particulars of your own kid into consideration. You know what's right for your kid. Set the rules you want with an open dialogue, rather than have it become something that your daughter can't talk about with you at all.Approaching social media with your child, rather than forbidding until she figures out how to do it behind your back, is probably the better option.
Links to resources Amy mentions in the episode:
Wait Until 8th: https://www.waituntil8th.org/
Devorah Heitner's book Growing Up In Public: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593420966
Bark.us (use this code for a free trial: https://www.bark.us/?ref=2R4XYRK)
Special thanks to our sponsor, Pampers:
For trusted protection, choose Pampers, the #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand. Download the Pampers Club App today to start earning free diapers.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Released:
Aug 28, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
What To Do When They’re Just Like You: Are your child’s most annoying personality traits super-familiar, because they are also yours? And is there anything to be done? We discuss whether those qualities are baked in the cake- or whether our kids learn how to be impossible by watching us. by What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms