Article: Online safety

Making social media a happy place

Information about how we can make social media a more positive experience

    Making Social Media a Happy Space

    • Have open and honest conversations about social media as a family, focusing on both the negatives and the positives. Young people may not always be honest with you with what they are doing, but if you can get some important messages through to them about safety then that’s better than not discussing it at all
    • Role modelling – young people learn from what they see. Create a healthy relationship yourself with social media (see guidance below). Try having a social media free day or plan a movie night together fortnightly with a ‘no phones rule’
    • Speak to your young person about their privacy settings. Make sure that your young person’s social media is as private as possible and they have to ‘accept’ friend requests or follows and cannot be followed by anyone
    • There are parent controls and separate apps that you can use to ensure your young person is safe on social media
    • Be inquisitive and ask your young person what social media sites they use and how they work
    • Stalking and harassment is illegal. If your young person is experiencing any stalking or harassment via social media you can report this to the police by calling 101. You can also report to the social media site itself, there will always be an option on someone’s profile to ‘report’
    • Talk to your young person about blocking anyone who is harassing them or sending nasty messages
    • Complete the plan overleaf with your young person to help them feel better on social media
    • Have a family code/safe word
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