"What I wish my parents knew about Social Media"

[Sophie-RO]

So a little while back we got some young people who are involed with ReachOut to reflect on when they were teens and what they wish their parents knew about social media...

When we posted this to Facebook we got a lot of good feedback - parents told us they liked to put themselves in a young person's shoes - but some people on facebook didn't like it - what do you think?

We're keen to learn from your opinions to make the service the best it can be.

[Mitzi]

Great video. Tells it like it is. My son asked politely if I would mind not being his friend on FB. I acceded to his request because I get it - for the reasons given by these young'uns.

[readthemanual]

Thanks for sharing, @Sophie-RO.

I like the part about facebook as a young people's party. Then we need to have an invitation to go to the party and if we do go, we need to be aware of their dress code.

My daughter share with me some of their discussions, and I liked her threads when it is something she wants me to promote. I am usually not on facebook and don't look at her pages unless asked to. I understand that facebook and other social media is part of her, if I am happy with her in general, I don't have to worry about that part of her either.

[HalleysComet]

I think the party analogy is also a good one.

I always try to remember that this is how communicatiopn and socialising happens now and it's an important part of how they learn to interact....

These young people seem a bit older but I'm sure it's similar for our under 18s too...

[Supermum]

I think the kids in the video will have a different attitude when they have children of their own using social media. It is nothing like hanging out with your friends. Any stranger can easily get into your childs social circle. It is a playground for pedofiles and it has the worst bulling i have ever seen. I have read inappropriate messages from men ranging from 18 to 60 on my 13 year olds facebook pictures. Many men privately message her and any parent who ignores this side of facebook is putting their child at risk. It is hard to teach young girls the risks of facebook.

[readthemanual]

that sounds terrible! @Supermum

I have to have a look. As I trust my daughter I have never read her facebook unless invited for certain things. But I still think she'd be fine. 

I agree that the social circle is much bigger and wider on the internet. But we still use the same judgement, plus we should be more careful than before as per this book: "delete: the virtue of forgetting in the digital age" by Viktor Mayer-Schonberger. In the age, information could be out of countrol and remembering is the norm and forgetting/deletting is very hard. I had discussed this with my daughter as well so that I know she is aware that she should not do things that she might regret.

[BazanFan]

I only just added my mum on Facebook. Only because she already had my partner. 

A social network is like any network - who wants their mum with them when they're at the pub with their friends etc. 

I remember my parents were awfully worried about messenger apps and forums like this one  when I was in school and they were all super basic and just another way for an awkward kid to communicate!

[Kalis]

'we need to be aware of their dress code' – that captures the sentiment perfectly @readthemanual! Thanks for sharing.