As the new school year begins, parents may face concerns regarding their children’s education, well-being, and social lives. One area that continues to be of the utmost importance is social media. With platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat dominating the digital world, ensuring your child’s safety online has never been more critical.

DID YOU KNOW?
Louisiana found great legislative success in the last year when lawmakers and former Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law the Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act. This law requires children 16 and under to get parental consent to create a social media account and includes safeguards for adult-minor messaging, minors’ personal data collection, ads targeting minors, and parental monitoring features. While social media is vastly evolving every day, this law should grant parents some peace of mind knowing they have rights when it comes to the safety of their child’s online presence. So, just take a deep breath, and don’t let the internet scare you.

Here are other tips and strategies we gathered based on research by the American Psychological Association and Norton Security to help you keep your child safe online as they return to school.

1. OPEN COMMUNICATION IS KEY
The foundation of social media safety starts with open and honest communication between you and your child. Encourage your child to talk about their online experiences, both positive and negative. Let them know they can come to you if they encounter anything uncomfortable or confusing online.

2. SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Establishing clear rules about social media use is crucial. Discuss what types of content are acceptable to post and view. Make sure your child understands the consequences of sharing personal information (age, hometown, school information, etc.) or engaging in risky online behavior.

3. EDUCATE ON PRIVACY AND ONLINE ETIQUETTE
Teach your child about the importance of privacy settings and how to use them effectively. They should understand that once something is posted online, it can be difficult–if not impossible–to completely remove it. Help them set their profiles to private and explain the dangers of accepting friend requests or follows from strangers. It’s also crucial to discuss online etiquette—how to communicate respectfully and the impact their words and actions can have on others.

4. MONITOR WITHOUT MICROMANAGING
As a parent, it’s natural to want to keep tabs on your child’s online activity. Tools like parental control apps can help you stay informed without being overbearing. These apps allow you to set screen time limits, filter content and followers, and even monitor messages in some cases. Popular social media apps, including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, and Discord all offer these features.

5. KEEP UP WITH WHAT’S #TRENDING
Social media platforms and online trends are constantly evolving. New apps, challenges, and threats emerge regularly, and it can be difficult to keep up. You can join online parenting groups, follow child safety organizations, and read up on the latest news regarding social media trends. This knowledge will help you to better understand what your child is experiencing and how to guide them through it.

6. ENCOURAGE CRITICAL THINKING
Finally, one of the best ways to keep your child safe online is to foster critical thinking. Encourage them to question what they see on social media and to think critically about the content they consume and share. Discuss the difference between real and fake information and the impact of algorithms on what appears in their feeds. Teach them to recognize red flags, such as messages from strangers, requests for personal information, or anything that seems too good to be true. By equipping your child with critical thinking skills, you empower them to make safer
choices online.

EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE!
Cyberbullying–the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person–is, unfortunately, a large ongoing issue in the United States and more prevalent than most parents may think. A 2023 report by the Cyberbullying Research Center found that out of 74 Louisiana adolescents surveyed, 62.8 percent reported they had been cyberbullied at some point in their lives. Parents must educate their children about cyberbullying so they can recognize when it’s happening and feel empowered to discuss it or report it to a trusted adult.

While social media offers numerous benefits, from staying connected with friends to exploring new interests, it also comes with risks that parents need to navigate carefully. As the school year begins, make social media safety a priority in your household. After all, a safe online environment is essential for your child’s overall well-being.