When parents set a positive example of social media behaviors, have open discussions about the unrealistic standards it can promote, and help them honor their accomplishments with gratitude, they help their children avoid the negative effects of social media on mental health.
Digital Citizenship Blog at SmartSocial.com
How to Use Screen Time Productively
As parents and educators, we know that screen time can be a double edge sword. So, how can we teach students to use screen time productively way while setting limits on screen time that has no value? In this blog post, experts share their best tips.
10 Examples of the Positive Impact of Social Media
We asked 10 experts to share the positive impact of social media on teen and tweens. Learn how social media provides a platform for positive resume building.
Overwatch Game: Are Your Kids Talking with Strangers?
Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game available on Windows, XBox One, and PS4 that is incredibly popular with students. The game only works if players are matched onto teams with other real people which means that your child will be exposed to strangers in every match.
5+ Positives of Social Media for Students
When used wisely, the positives of social media can be incredibly beneficial for students (especially during the college or job application process). While it’s important for parents to talk about the dangers and risks of being online, it’s also important for kids to understand the positives of social media.
Shell On Challenge: What Parents Need to Know
The shell on challenge is a social media trend that is gaining popularity among students. Teens are challenging each other to eat food items still in their packaging. It should be a red flag for parents if their child is doing this challenge to gain attention on social media.
The Tellonym App Encourages Students To Be Anonymous Online
The Tellonym app allows students (and strangers) to ask and answer questions anonymously. The app can be linked to a user’s Instagram or Snapchat, meaning messages can include inappropriate images. When teens connect anonymous apps to their Instagram or Snapchat they open themselves up to being targeted by strangers.
5+ Screen Time Management Tips to Prevent Addiction
Children of all ages have access to screen time, whether it’s Facetiming with relatives, or using social media to chat with friends. It’s important to help your children develop healthy screen time management habits and monitor them for red flags that might indicate that they are addicted to technology.
How to Handle and Prevent Excessive Screen Time
Whether it’s toddlers playing with their parent’s tablet or teenagers keeping up their Snapchat streaks, excessive screen time can happen at any age. So, how can parents handle excessive screen time or help their younger kids avoid it entirely? 7 experts share their best tips for parents.
Why Every Family Needs a Password Manager
While many families don’t think they have anything worth “hacking” — that couldn’t be further from the truth. Having a password manager drastically reduces the possibility of your family becoming the victim of ransomware, identity theft, malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks.
How to Set Social Media Guidelines for Your Family
While having a family contract can help establish social media guidelines (and consequences for breaking those guidelines), that is only one piece of your family’s online safety puzzle. Parents must be vigilant about monitoring their kids on social media and having regular discussions about online safety.
Hooked App: Is It Safe for Students?
The Hooked app enables users to read stories in chat form, like a series of text messages or as a series of video clips. Since the majority of the stories feature sex, violence, and drug use, this app is inappropriate for students.
What Is the Boo App (Formerly Boomoji)?
The Boo app (formerly Boomoji) is a social network where users create an avatar that they use to chat with others. In our experience, when tweens and teens have anonymous avatars to hide behind, they tend to misbehave more than if they’re actions are tied to their real name.
Family Night: How to Have Fun Without Screens
When your kids are in middle and high school, it can feel like you’re competing with social media and the television to get your child’s attention. However, when parents build a tech-free family night into their family’s schedule it can have a positive impact on everyone.
Monkey App Encourages Kids To Video Chat With Strangers
The Monkey app randomly pairs users with strangers for a 15 second video chat. We highly recommend deleting the Monkey app if your child has it because random video chatting apps make it easy for teens to be targeted by predators.
An MMA Fighter Teaches Students How to Love Each Other with Guest Justin Wren (Podcast Episode #111)
In this podcast episode, Josh Ochs interviews Justin Wren an MMA fighter, author, speaker, and humanitarian. Today Justin is on a mission to tackle bullying through both awareness and prevention. Justin is passionate about sharing his story in order to break the lifelong chains of bullying.
Is the Momo Challenge A Hoax on Social Media? (Parent Video)
Similar to the Blue Whale Challenge, the Momo Challenge is a dangerous viral social media trend with teens and tweens. The challenge encourages students to contact an unknown person called “Momo” via WhatsApp. Throughout the challenge, students are sent violent and graphic content and a series of dangerous tasks.
We’re Not Just Raising Sons, We’re Raising Husbands (Podcast Episode #104)
In this episode Josh interviews Tracy who is a mom from Ohio raising sons. Tracy has two teenage boys and they needed to make lifestyle changes to ensure they were “growing up” in the best ways. Learn how she teaches her boys how to be gentlemen online (and in person).
Teaching Kids About Advertising: 5 Experts Share Advice
Social media and online advertisements can have a major impact on a child’s self-image. And younger children might not even be able to tell the difference between an advertisement from their favorite TV show or app. So, we asked 5 experts to share advice on teaching kids about advertising.
Giving Kids Self Worth on Social Media with Janice Taylor of Mazu App (Podcast Episode #103)
In this episode Josh interviews Janice Taylor of MazuFamily.com and they talk about how parents can help give their kids self worth on social media. Additionally, Janice talks about re-engineering social media to reduce the addiction and teaching parents how to model positive behavior for kids.
