Healthy Use of Social Media

Here are some ways to help your child learn about healthy social media habits using the Six Pillars of Character.

Trustworthiness

Make sure that you show integrity by only posting content that is reflective of your character. Here's a few questions to ask yourself before you post.

• Would my family be proud of me for posting this?
  
• Could I regret posting this tomorrow, next month, or next year?
• Would I be happy if everyone saw this or if it went viral?
• Do I think it would be ok if my best friend did this?
• Does this post represent who I am and who I want to be?

Respect
Establish boundaries for when and how social media can be used at home. Hold each other accountable and respect the boundaries you create.

Responsibility
Be responsible by limiting your screen time on social media and gaming apps.

Fairness

Research the credibility of social media posts and fact check content before sharing or liking.

Caring
Don't post anything that is unkind and report content that targets others unfairly.

Citizenship
Model good citizenship by spreading positive news through social media.

Family Discussion

As a family, discuss these questions to help create healthy social media boundaries.

• What is appropriate to post on social media? 

• When should our phones and/or social media be off limits? How much should we be on social media every day?
• What time should we quit social media for the night? What happens to our phones at bedtime?
• What kind of privacy settings should we have? Who should we add as a friend or connection on social media?
• What kind of content should we never post (e.g., home address or other identifying information)?