In this episode Josh interviews Janice Taylor of MazuFamily.com and they talk about how to be the best parent possible in an online world. Janice talks about re-engineering social media to reduce the addiction, teaching parents how to model positive behavior for kids, what the key signs of addiction are, and how to reduce bullying for students. Download Mazu.

Janice Taylor is a social entrepreneur, mother, inspirational speaker, author, and online safety advocate. She has a BA Honors in Behavioral Psychology, focusing on self-esteem and self-efficacy among women. It was from this research that she sought to create a solution to the issue of social media addiction and how it was affecting women, children, and families.

Her credo of compassion, community, and caring drives the vision of her company Mazu, a healthy, positive, and fun engagement platform for families, founded in love. Mazu gives children and parents a place to communicate and connect, creating the “digital family village” – the antidote to social media, that awakens families with love.

How does Mazu help families?

I'm a mom of two girls. I noticed several years ago that the way social media was built wasn't for kids and family. It was too adult and had a ton of inappropriate content. It's a pretty mean environment. So, we created a solution.  

Mazu is social media with manners. We're here to inspire kids and empower parents. We provide the only ad-free digital space for kids based on core values & love and is the refuge from the negativity, bullying, and harassment common to most gaming, social media, and video streaming services.

How can kids can grow up with technology in a healthy way?

When we're building Mazu, we have two thoughts. How can we help kids have the best experience of themselves? Because children under the age of 13 don't need to be told that they're ugly or not good enough, yet they get that everywhere on social media, Mazu guards against that.

How does Mazu help families connect and communicate?

Mazu wants kids to connect to their interests because we believe that the greatest motivator for children is a sense of purpose.

In Mazu, we want to make sure that when kids are connecting, they're connecting with a positive community. The moment that kids start to follow people outside of that positive community, that's when comparative psychosis sets in.

The Four Way Test; Guiding Principles of Mazu users before they can post:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

What is the ideal age for kids to start using Mazu?

Kids get swimming lessons before going into the ocean. So now because kids get devices as young as two; what swimming lessons are we giving them? What we say, is that any child under the age of 13 can be in our experience.

But it's when those parents start to say, “How are they going to communicate with their friends? Where are they taking in their content and how can we protect them?” We want to teach them first that the world is positive on social media.

Tips for helping kids develop positive self worth on social media:

1. Stop chasing your kids all over the internet.
2. Engage with them, teach them and be that relationship.
3. Be Present. Put the phone down for your children.

How should parents approach quiet children?

Model the behavior that you wish to see. Kids will begin to pick up your habits and behaviors.

So put your phone down, grab that child and say, “Come for a walk with me? Hey, do you want to go to a movie together? Let's you and I have a date day with lunch.” When you take this approach, you start to become the star of their life.

Give them your time. When you see your children go quiet or they're withdrawing, put the phone away and do something with them. Ensure that it doesn't include anything on social media, if it does then they need to take a break from that environment.

Conclusion

Social Media wasn’t created with kids and families in mind. Mazu provides a solution for families who are looking for a safe, fun, and positive online community. The greatest motivator for children is having a sense of purpose, so it’s important to help kids connect to their interests. When parents model healthy behaviors online and are present with their children, they’re kids are more likely to develop positive self worth.

What are your tips for helping kids develop positive self worth on social media? Let us know in the comments below!