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Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time (What Students, Parents, & Educators Need to Know)

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Unlock this lesson to learn what you can do to keep kids safe on social media

This social media app guide will help parents learn: 

  • Why students should be using social media
  • Why parents should care about the positives of social media
  • Tips to keep students safe while using social media

Learn why parents and educators should care about the positives of social media:

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all SmartSocial.com resources about social media!

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This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

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Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

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This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

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Full Replay: How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

There’s a lot of talk about the negative side of social media, but the positive impact social media can have on a student’s future should not be overlooked. Students can use their social media platforms for good by creating a digital portfolio to shine online. These valuable skills can not only help teens learn to balance their screen time but also create a digital footprint that creates amazing opportunities in the future.

College admission officers and potential employers are looking at students’ online footprints. Teens who learn how to use their social media accounts to highlight their skills, experience, and values will be ahead of their peers.

Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet.(Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

Social Media and Students in the News

Most employers (90%) factor a job candidate’s social media accounts into their hiring decisions, and 79% have rejected a candidate based on their social media content.” - The Manifest

What can students do to create a positive online presence?

Three-Step Social Media Footprint Plan

Step 1: Audit with a Google Search

Other people with similar names will come up even if students aren’t online yet

  • Start with Google in “Incognito Mode” and search your name
  • ~You are still trackable, but this temporarily hides the cookies that websites use to customize results for you
  • Take note of competition for your results - other people with the same or similar name may appear.  These results could be negative and confusing to those searching to confirm your identity (and character)
  • Check monthly for new results
Four ways others will search for you:
  1. First Name + Last Name
  2. “First Name + Last Name” (in quotes)
  3. “First + Last” + City
  4. “First + Last” + School

Step 2: Reflect about YOU

  • Students should consider thinking about what they want others to know about them through their online reputation
  • What are you interested in?
  • What do you want to do with your career?
  • Are there examples of others with similar interests or career goals on social media sites you can follow or get ideas from?
  • How do you want to show your unique interests, creative activities, and career goals online?

Step 3: Shine Online

  • Start building a positive set of Google results
  • Use the various online platforms as a purpose to showcase your interests, goals, and creative skills instead of only as a social pastime
  • Think of your profile, messages, and comments on any social media platform as having the possibility of being fully visible in your Google results
  • Have fun and share your group photos and updates on what you are doing, but think about how every post could be part of your Google results
  • Our favorite social media platforms for creating your own positive Google results to Shine Online are: LinkedIn, Pinterest, X (Twitter), and a personal website/portfolio
  • Even if your name does not show up on the first page of Google, others might show up (or your social media will appear soon)
  • Do the other people who come up under your name have a very positive footprint?  Will they help you get a job/internship/college acceptance?
  • Has everything they have shared been Light, Bright & Polite? If not, we need to start creating positive results for you to reach the top of Google so the other people won’t have negative effects on your future
  • If someone only saw one of the messages or photos in your Google results, would it leave your dream college/employer excited to interview you?

16 Examples of Positive Social Media for Students

Social media can be about more than a student's social life

  • Virtual communities encourage student engagement and help students feel connected to others with their skills and interesting hobbies. Student organizations you participate in at school might have social media groups (NHS, NJHS, FBLA, FFA, high school sports associations, debate teams, etc)
  • Social media enables students to be inspired by career options they didn’t know existed.  You could learn about engineering, zookeeping, education, the military, finance, wind turbine and solar jobs, occupational therapists, and hundreds of other career opportunities through educational videos
  • Learning platform for job skills: getting feedback (and responding positively)
  • Increase our knowledge of different subjects with online courses and distance learning
  • Increase our civic engagement and social awareness - NewsForKids, Teen Kids News
  • Follow positive people online to support mental health

Social media encourages a sense of community

  • Students can teach older adults how to use technology
  • Connect with extended family or immediate family online and continue the conversations when offline and in-person
I'm proud to share that my own grandparents are now confident Zoomers, as evidenced by the fact they were the first ones to show up to the party we had the other night with our extended family.” - Refinery29

Social Media Education for Students

  • Gain knowledge about science with Snapchat (example: Bear Grylls, NASA)
  • Watch educational videos and learn about physics on TikTok (example: @thephysicsgirl, @physicsdude, @stevespangler)
  • Find mentors at your future school and start networking with other students
  • Gather information and explore academic/career paths
  • Get daily inspiration by following inspirational people
  • Learn programming and technical skills for future job opportunities and career exploration through online learning
  • Share your skills with others and use social media to be discovered
  • Create an online resume and portfolio to share positive aspects of your life with the SmartSocial Student Branding Academy

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

Full Replay: How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online

Social Media Issues (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (SEL questions)

Tracking Time

  • How can you monitor the amount of time you spend on social media so it doesn’t interfere with other priorities?

Avoiding Online Strangers

  • One risk an expert in the video mentions is online “stranger danger” when people you don’t know might try to friend you or ask a lot of questions. How can you avoid strangers online?

Parents of Elementary School Students (engagement questions):

Protecting Against Risks

  • What precautions can you take as a parent to help protect your student from some of the social-media dangers mentioned in the video?

Age-Appropriate Apps

  • If your child is just starting to use social media—or you plan to allow it in the future—what apps do you feel comfortable with and which would you want them to avoid?

Middle School Students (SEL questions)

Resisting FOMO

  • One expert in the video mentions how apps like Instagram can leave people feeling “less than.” How can you remind yourself that nobody’s life is as perfect as their best social-media posts?

Keeping Drama in Check

  • If you’re experiencing drama in your peer group, why is it a good idea to keep it from spilling over onto social media?

Parents of Middle School Students (engagement questions):

Fighting FOMO

  • How can you explain to your student that nobody’s life is as perfect as their best social-media posts?

Staying in Touch

  • How much do you know about the content your kids are posting/consuming?

High School Students (SEL Questions):

When to Turn Off Social Media

  • How do you manage the amount of time you spend on social media so you don’t inadvertently neglect other goals?

Re-considering Impulsive Posts

  • How can you resist the urge to post something thoughtless or negative online, even when you want to express frustration?

Parents of High School Students (engagement questions):

Using Social Media for Good

  • How can you start a dialogue with your student about the wisdom of posting uplifting content rather than using social media to show off or even put down others?

When Your Student Overindulges

  • How can you encourage your student to take healthy breaks from social media?

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

Social Media Issues (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Managing a Digital Image (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (SEL Questions):

Good Digital Citizenship

  • What do you think it means to be a good citizen on social media?

Who’s Watching?

  • When people post things on social media, they’re often focused on their friends seeing it. Who are some other kinds of people who might be finding your social-media posts?

Parents of Elementary School Students (engagement questions):

Making a Lasting Impression

  • How can you talk to your kids about how having and showing good values can help them achieve future dreams?

Dealing with Negative Content

  • How can you prepare your student for the bad examples (and inappropriate content) they might encounter on social media and how they can deal with these?

Middle School Students (SEL Questions):

Social Media’s Agenda

  • How do you think social-media apps encourage people to stay online for hours, overshare, and engage in other behavior that’s probably not in their best interest?

Living Your Values

  • If a company you’d love to work for states that they recruit people with a “passion for changing the world,” how could you display that quality on social media?

Parents of Middle School Students (engagement questions):

Making Good Choices on Social Media

  • How early is too early to get students thinking about the impact of their digital footprint?

Getting Pulled In

  • What are some ways that social-media apps may encourage negative behaviors, and how can students resist those temptations?

High School Students (SEL Questions):

Telling Your Story

  • What activities are you interested in, and how can you post about those to showcase your involvement in an authentically positive way?

How Posts Can Impact Your Future

  • Can you think of an example of how someone might gain—or lose—an advantage in the college or job market because of things they post online?

Parents of High School Students (engagement questions):

Highlighting Personal Passions

  • What activities is your student interested in, and how can you encourage them to post about those to showcase their involvement in an authentically positive way?

Avoiding Online Conflicts

  • One expert in the video reminded us to allow others to have different opinions. How does that translate to how kids (and adults) should react to things they don’t like online?

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

Managing a Digital Image (For Students, Parents & Educators)

What is an Online Portfolio (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (SEL Questions):

Explaining the Benefits

  • If your parents are worried about allowing you to use social media—even when you’re older—what could you tell them about its potential benefits? 

What Others’ Posts Reveal about Them 

  • When you see someone promoting positive causes on social media, what do you think it says about that person?

Parents of Elementary School Students (engagement questions):

Being Mindful of Your Own Posts

  • If your student is on social media and can see your posts, how can you make sure what you post sets a good example?

The Risks of Being Invisible

  • Even if they’re not using social media now, why can it be more advantageous for your student to create a positive social-media image (when they’re ready) than to avoid it altogether?

Middle School Students (SEL Questions):

Self-Searching

  • When you search your name online, what kinds of results do you see? Are some results about you, or do other people with similar names show up instead?

Planning a Portfolio

  • If you were to start building an online portfolio now, what kinds of things would you include?

Parents of Middle School Students (engagement questions):

Anonymity Isn’t Always the Answer

  • Avoiding social media can seem like the safest way to avoid problems, but what are some downfalls of not having a social media presence?

Spreading the Word

  • If your child were to start building a personal website or portfolio now, what kinds of things could they showcase?

High School Students (SEL Questions):

Mistaken Identity

  • What’s the harm if someone with a similar name to yours pops up at the top of your Google search results?

Strategizing Search Results

  • What are some ways to improve what shows up when people do a Google search for you?

Parents of High School Students (engagement questions):

Managing Search Results

  • What are some tips you might encourage your student to follow in order to manage what shows up when people search for them online?

Your Student’s Best, Authentic Self

  • How can students keep their social-media image authentic while showcasing skills, interests, and accomplishments?

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

What is an Online Portfolio (For Students, Parents & Educators)

How to Get Fired with One Post (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (SEL Questions):

Critical-Thinking Skills

  • How can you decide if something you want to say is okay to post online?

What to Avoid

  • Can you name an example of something you or a friend might post online without thinking about how others might view it?

Parents of Elementary School Students (engagement questions):

What Not To Do

  • Can you name an example of something a young person might post online without thinking about how others might view it?

Building Critical-Thinking Skills

  • How can you start a dialogue early with your student about using good judgment when deciding what to post online?

Middle School Students (SEL Questions):

Airing Grievances Online

  • Imagine another student at your school earned a coveted place on the track team and then posted that she hates after-school practices. How might her peers react?  

Social-Media Role Models

  • Who are some people you follow on social media who post good examples of what it means to be light, bright, and polite?

Parents Middle School Students (engagement questions):

Talking about Social Media

  • Why is it important to keep an ongoing dialogue with your student about what they and their friends post on social media?

Learning from Others’ Mistakes

  • What are some online gaffes you can imagine a student your child’s age making that could come back to harm them?

High School Students (SEL Questions):

What Would You Do?

  • If you were responsible for hiring the woman the host discusses in the video and later found out about her post, what would you do?

Posts Never Really Go Away

  • How is it possible for others to see or find out about posts you’ve deleted from social media?

Parents of High School Students (engagement questions):

A Critical Time for Your Student

  • Why is high school a critical time for students to think more carefully than ever about the image they present online?

Instead of Posting It…

  • How can you encourage your child to use a trusted friend or adult as a sounding board when they’re concerned about something, rather than sharing it online?

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

How to Get Fired with One Post (For Students, Parents & Educators)

Shine Online - Managing Social Media Expectations as a Family (Video for Parents)

Questions to prompt discussion with students:

Parents and Teachers: View the full Facilitation Guide Here

Elementary School Students (SEL Questions):

Avoiding Overdoing It

  • If you use social media, how much time per day do you think is reasonable?

Agreeing as a Family

  • How could it be helpful for you and your parents to discuss healthy social-media limits together?

Parents of Elementary School Parents (engagement questions)

What’s Your Limit?

  • What do you consider an appropriate screen-time limit for your child?

Avoiding Risks

  • One expert in the video mentioned all apps have pros and cons. What are some dangers you want your child to be aware of regardless of which apps they use?

Middle School Students (SEL Questions):

Social Media in Middle School

  • What social-media apps do you think are okay for students your age, and which ones do you think might be inappropriate for you or some of your friends?

When Your Mom & Dad Need a Helpful Reminder

  • How much do you think the amount of time your parents spend on their phones influences how you interact with your devices?

Parents of Middle School Parents (engagement questions)

Family Agreements

  • Why would it be helpful to include your child in creating a social-media agreement regarding time limits and appropriate use?

Which Apps are Okay

  • What apps do you feel comfortable with your middle schooler using, and which ones do you consider inappropriate or too dangerous?

High School Students (SEL Questions):

Making Social Media Productive

  • Aside from accessing school materials, what are some examples of positive and productive screen time?

Demonstrating Responsibility

  • What are some ways you’ve demonstrated that you’re using social media responsibly?

Parents of High School Parents (engagement questions)

When to Trust Your Student

  • Under what circumstances would you want to consider backing off how or how much you monitor your student’s online activities?

Being a Good Role Model

  • What are some ways you can reduce your own screen time—especially during family time or social situations—to set a good example?

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

Shine Online - Managing Social Media Expectations as a Family (Video for Parents)

How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online Event - Spanish Language Version

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online Event - Spanish Language Version

How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online Event - Mandarin Chinese Version

Additional Resources

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely.

How to Use Your Social Media Accounts to Shine Online Event - Mandarin Chinese Version

Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time (What Students, Parents, & Educators Need to Know)

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The negative effects of social media on teens and tweens can be obvious for parents and educators, but there are seldom discussions about the positive effects of social media and the ability they have to use their social media platforms for good. When teaching students how to build healthy screen time habits, it can be helpful to also understand the positive effects of social media and the ways social media enables teens to support their mental health.

What students think about social media (video)

(This student-friendly video can be shown in the classroom or at home)

What companies are looking for from students (Student, parent, & educator training video)

(This student-friendly video can be shown in the classroom or at home)

Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)

Will TikTok and Instagram be your future resume? (Student, parent, & educator training video)

(This student-friendly video can be shown in the classroom or at home)

What is Google saying about you to your dream company? (Student, parent, & educator training video)

(This student-friendly video can be shown in the classroom or at home)

Instagram resumes: how to get discovered (Student, parent, & educator training video)

(This student-friendly video can be shown in the classroom or at home)

Positive Effects of Social Media & Screen Time (expert video)

(This parent and educator video is best to be shown to adults)‍

What you’ll learn in this video lesson

Social media and students in the news

90% of employers say social media is important when evaluating a job candidate
Most employers (90%) factor a job candidate’s social media accounts into their hiring decisions, and 79% have rejected a candidate based on their social media content. - The Manifest

What can students do to create a positive online presence?

Three-step plan

Step 1: Audit with a Google Search

Other people with similar names will come up even if students aren’t online yet

  • Start with Google in “Incognito Mode” and search your name
  • You are still trackable, but this temporarily hides the cookies that websites use to customize results for you
  • Other people may come up with the same name or a similar name, or other reasons even if a student isn’t online yet - take note of competition for your results
  • Check on a monthly basis for new results

Four ways others will search for you:

  1. First Name + Last Name
  2. “First Name + Last Name” (in quotes)
  3. “First + Last” + City
  4. “First + Last” + School

Step 2: Reflect about YOU 

Students should consider thinking about what they want others to know about them with their online reputation

  • What are you interested in?
  • What do you want to do with your career?
  • Are there examples of others with those similar interests or career goals on social media sites who you can follow or get ideas from?
  • How do you want to show your unique interests, creative activities, and career goals online?

Step 3:  Shine Online

  • Start building a positive set of Google results
  • Use the various online platforms as a purpose to showcase your interests, goals, and creative skills instead of only as a social pastime
  • Think of your profile and messages in any social media platform as having the possibility of being fully visible in your Google results
  • Have fun and share your group photos and updates on what you are doing, but think about how every post could be part of your Google results
  • Our favorite social media platforms for creating your own positive Google results to Shine Online are: LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and a personal website/portfolio
  • Even if your name does not show up on the first page of Google, others might show up (or your social media will appear soon)
  • Do the other people who come up under your name have a very positive footprint?  Will they help you get a job/internship/college acceptance?
  • Has everything they have shared been Light, Bright & Polite? If not, we need to start creating positive results for you to  reach the top of Google so the other people won’t have negative effects on your future
  • If someone only saw one of the messages or photos in your Google results, would it leave your dream college/career excited to interview you?

15 Examples of Positive Social Media

Social media can be about more than a student's social life

  • Virtual communities encourage student engagement and help students feel connected to others with their skills and interesting hobbies. Student organizations you participate in at school might have social media groups (NHS, NJHS, FBLA, FFA, high school sports associations, debate teams, etc)
  • Social media enables students to be inspired by career options they didn’t know existed.  You could learn about engineering, zoo-keeping, education, the military, finance, wind turbine and solar jobs, occupational therapists, and hundreds of other career opportunities through educational videos
  • Learning platform for job skills: getting feedback (and responding positively)
  • Increase our knowledge of different subjects with online courses and distance learning
  • Increase our civic engagement and social awareness - NewsForKids, Teen Kids News
  • Follow positive people online to support mental health

Social media encourages a sense of community

  • Students can teach older adults how to use technology
  • Connect with extended family or immediate family online and continue the conversations when offline and in-person
I taught my grandparents how to zoom and you can too
I'm proud to share that my own grandparents are now confident Zoomers, as evidenced by the fact they were the first ones to show up to the party we had the other night with our extended family. - Refinery29

Educational development

  • Gain knowledge about science with Snapchat (example: Bear Grylls, NASA)
  • Watch educational videos and learn about physics on TikTok (example: @thephysicsgirl, @physicsdude, @stevespangler
  • Find mentors at your future school and start networking with other students
  • Gather information and explore academic/career paths
  • Get daily inspiration by following inspirational people
  • Learn programming and technical skills for future job opportunities and career exploration through online learning
  • Share your skills for others and use social media to be discovered
  • Create an online resume and portfolio to share positive aspects of your life with the SmartSocial Student Branding Academy

Conclusion

Students have been told time and time again that social media can have a negative impact on their lives, but they rarely hear about the ways that it can benefit them or positively impact their mental health. From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication and online editing skills, social media can create plenty of positive opportunities for students.

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. When kids understand the negatives and positives of social media – and regularly talk to their parents about them – they will be better equipped to use social media wisely. 

Additional Resources

Students are you using this page for your homework and need to cite your source? Use this MLA format:

“Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know.” SmartSocial, 28 September 2022, https://smartsocial.com/post/positive-impact-of-social-media.

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Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.

Unlock this lesson to learn what you can do to keep kids safe on social media

This social media app guide will help parents learn: 

  • Why students should be using social media
  • Why parents should care about the positives of social media
  • Tips to keep students safe while using social media

Learn why parents and educators should care about the positives of social media:

Log in or join the VIP membership today to view all SmartSocial.com resources about social media!

Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic

Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
Quotation marks

This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

StarStarStarStarStar

Sharon M.

Parent VIP Member

Quotation marks

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

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Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

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This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

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Irene C.

Educator Webinar Attendee

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