Message from Dr. Newman: Social Media Safety
Dear Friends –
RESPECT’s mission to “build healthy relationships” includes programs to facilitate healthy, positive and safe interactions in person and online. Online communication, interactions in social media and information presented in the cyberworld present both advantages and risks for students of all ages.
Recent data suggests that 48% of children ages 0 – 8 have their own tablet or similar electronic device. The percentage increases with age.
Students of all ages are exposed to educational, social and recreational information online. It is imperative that parents interact with their children to be fully aware of what they are watching and with whom they are communicating.
The impact of “influencers” can have a strong impact on students. As in all interactions, there are risks for negative peer pressure but also benefits from positive peer pressure. It is important to educate students about how to identify attempts to influence them so they can reach out for help as needed and make healthy decisions. Talking about what they see and hear online can be immensely helpful in sorting out the vast amount of information they are exposed to.
Students need to learn that not everything they see is accurate and how to respond to their “gut feelings” and check out information that may be harmful.
Additionally, online communication adds to bullying with a “cyber” component. Students can learn to identify bullying, as well as how to report it and skills that can be engaged to help not only themselves but peers who they may be concerned about online.
Many children will share mental health concerns online and observing these comments can prove anxiety inducing for other students. All students can learn to identify and share comments that worry them, particularly those that suggest self-harm or harm to others.
In all RESPECT programs we encourage students to STOP and THINK about HOW TO HELP.
All programs include some aspects of online communications. This includes discussions about the need to take a break from electronic devices, how to identify, respond to and report, cyber bullying, the need to always report the threat of harm to self/others, how to distinguish negative versus positive peer pressure and online influencers. Additionally, some discussion includes the need to be safe related to interacting with strangers as well as with adults who are known to them.
Some of RESPECT’s resources:
Additionally, we appreciate the support we have from Common Sense Media in the development of our programs.
RESPECTfully,
Patricia