Is keeping your kids away from social media the answer?
Is keeping your kids away from social media the answer?
Absolutely, for a while. However, eventually, they will need to operate in this world. The essence of parenting is to prepare them for this—raising children who can navigate the world wisely, intentionally, and consciously without being misled by the myriad of deceptive messages out there.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to guide your kids to become critical thinkers as they engage with social media. Our goal is to ensure that the messages they encounter online do not distort their lives.
The Social Media Challenge
Advertisers have long used scare tactics and scarcity to sell products, and social media is no different. Even as adults, we find ourselves distracted by the messages that bombard us through various media platforms. Let me share a personal story to illustrate this.
A few years ago, my wife and I were on a dream vacation in Maui, the absolute top destination for us. Everything was perfect. One day, however, I found myself scrolling through social media and saw a post about a family trip to Zion National Park. Instantly, I felt a pang of regret—thinking we should also visit places like that. Here I was, in my favorite place in the world, feeling bad because of a post I saw online. This “fear of missing out” (FOMO) is powerful and pervasive.
It's not just vacations that trigger this. I see updates on LinkedIn and question my career achievements. I see videos of beautiful backyards and suddenly feel dissatisfied with my own. I see someone I barely know celebrating a hole-in-one in golf, and I think, "Why can't I achieve that?"
If I, as a grown man with a successful career, a loving family, and a deep faith, can feel this way, how much more intense must these feelings be for a child?
The Hidden Threat to Our Kids
Social media is designed to distract and distort reality. It tells us we're not enough and that we need more—more achievements, more possessions, more admiration. For kids who are still figuring out their identities and their place in the world, these messages can be devastating.
What can we do about it?
We at The YouSchool have developed the Tech Healthy Parenting course to help parents navigate these complex issues. Here are some practical steps to help your kids become critical thinkers in the age of social media:
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Consume Media Together: Watch shows, browse Instagram reels, or listen to podcasts with your kids. Discuss the content and the underlying messages.
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Encourage Meta-Thinking: Teach your kids to look beyond the surface of media messages. Ask them what promises are being made and how those messages align with their values.
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Discuss Real vs. Fake: Help them discern between reality and the often curated and exaggerated lives depicted online.
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Cultivate Self-Awareness: Encourage your kids to reflect on their feelings after consuming media. Do they feel inspired, or do they feel lacking? Understanding their emotional responses is crucial.
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Promote Conscious Living: Guide your kids to make mindful choices online. They should be aware of the time they spend on social media and its impact on their well-being.
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Build Critical Thinking Skills: Engage in conversations about media literacy. Discuss who creates the content, why it’s created, and how it aims to influence viewers.
The Goal: Self-Aware, Intentional Living
Ultimately, we want our kids to be in the world but not distracted by it. They should pursue their authentic selves, build healthy relationships, and have a healthy self-image. This involves more than just avoiding social media; it means teaching them to understand and navigate it wisely.
Check out our Tech Healthy Parenting course, designed for parents of kids of all ages—from elementary school to high school. This course will equip you with the tools and knowledge to guide your kids in becoming self-aware, critical thinkers who can thrive in the digital age.
The risks of not addressing these issues are high, but we can help our kids navigate this world well with intentional guidance. Let’s teach them to make conscious, thoughtful choices that lead to a fulfilling and balanced life.
A Look to the Future
The journey to raising tech-savvy, critical thinkers is challenging but essential. As parents, we must be proactive in helping our kids understand and manage their interactions with social media. By fostering self-awareness and critical thinking, we can ensure that our kids grow up to be wise and intentional adults capable of navigating the complexities of the digital world.
If you want to learn more and equip yourself with effective strategies, check out our Tech Healthy Parenting course in our show notes. Let's work together to protect and prepare our kids for the future.