By: Brooke Shannon
My heart physically hurts after reading a week's worth of messages from being out of town for spring break.
Parents and school administrators often reach out to us with tragic stories concerning smartphones and social media. My inbox was overflowing.
A number of teen boys were exploited and blackmailed over social media in a growing trend of sextortion scams.
A missing teen was found locked in a shed after being abducted and raped by man she met online.
A teenager took her own life after relentless cyberbullying.
There were a number of heart-breaking stories involving fentanyl purchased on social media resulting in overdoses.
Parents,
You can't trust the world with your kid at 3 a.m. in her bedroom with her phone.
You can't trust millions of strangers who can access your child on social media and gaming platforms.
You can't think this would never happen to my kid.
You can't hope for the best that your kid is going to make the right decision when she is blackmailed, bullied and feels like there is no way out.
What can you do?
Most importantly, you have to talk to your kids about all the hard, awkward topics so many people want to avoid. Your kids have to know about bullying, predators, signs of grooming, sexting, pornography and sextoration. They need a blueprint of what do when they feel helpless and pressured. There are so many resources to help with these conversations. We recommend checking out Protect Young Eyes, Defend Young Mindsand Screen Sanity.
What else can you do?
Delay smartphones and social media! Period. Most 9 year olds don't need a phone. Your 12 year old can live without TikTok and Instagram. Your high schooler will survive without Snapchat.
✅ Delay the smartphone until at least 8th grade with the Wait Until 8th pledge. Do you need to get in touch before then? Start with a basic phone. We have some options listed here.
✅ Delay social media until 16+.
✅When you do permit social media, start slowly! Set time restrictions. Be sure to follow their accounts and check in with what they are doing and what accounts they are following.
✅ Keep devices out of the bedroom especially at night!
Brooke Shannon lives in Austin with her husband and three daughters. She is the founder and the Executive Director of the Wait Until 8th pledge. The pledge empowers parents to delay the smartphone for their children until at least 8th grade. Join more than 45,000 parents in saying yes to waiting on the smartphone by pledging today.
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