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How can my middle schooler avoid peril on social media?
In this article, you’ll find answers to questions like:
1. How can parents handle social media?
In middle school, many children become more engaged with social media. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat may expose kids to cyberbullying and online predators. Even texting can turn into dangerous if kids view or send nude or semi-nude photos.
1. HOW CAN PARENTS HANDLE SOCIAL MEDIA?
FAU Professor Sameer Hinduja shares guidance from the Cyberbullying Research Center that parents monitor the time their child is on social media and apply limits if the student is not getting enough sleep or failing to complete schoolwork.
Parents can also help by making sure their children know they can block and report users who are being hurtful and unfollow accounts that don’t bring them joy.
In addition, it’s important to review your children’s friend lists to see who has access to their profiles and if your children know all the friends in person, according to NetSmartz, a program run by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The best practice is for teens to set their profile to private with the expectation that anything posted on social media is not guaranteed to be private.
The Cyberbullying Research Centers advises parents to encourage middle schoolers to stand up for and be supportive of others online. Young people have the power to cultivate an online community of kindness.
SOURCES:
Sameer Hinduja, Florida Atlantic University professor and co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center
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Related resources
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- Other
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National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
NetSmartz — interactive website that teaches kids and teens how to make safer choices online
800-843-5678 Website -
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Office of State Attorney — Palm Beach County
Local county criminal prosecutors, including information and support for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and violent crimes
561-355-7100 Website Email -
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Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative - Palm Beach County
A collaboration of five local mental health agencies that assess and treat children's serious behavioral, emotional or mental health problems
561-244-9499 Website -
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Community Partners
Positive Parenting Program, known as Triple P — free seminars and one-on-one guidance to help families improve their parent-child relationships
561-841-3500 Website Email -
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Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County
Positive Parenting Program, known as Triple P, offers free seminars and one-on-one guidance to help families improve the parent-child relationship
561-616-1222 Website Email