Social Media and Parental Guidance

Social media has significant potential for marketing, but it can also be used as a means of keeping tabs on your extended family members.

Today families are linking together in social media for the purpose of keeping in touch with a cyber focal point. The results are an unusual bit of family connection in an online environment.

Most teens adjust easily enough and may not feel that your observation of their social media site is an overt intrusion and may even come to welcome your perspective. As with all rules there are exceptions and some teens may not be happy with your online involvement.

Your concern, however, may not be as welcome by your teen's friends, but they too will get used to the idea that you will be a mostly silent observer.

The use of social media is a no cost means of understanding your teens, monitoring their friends and stepping in when absolutely needed.

You may be surprised. Your teen may actually supply a backhanded compliment to you in a post - or it might just be flattery because they know you're reading.

Obviously the sooner you start this the easier it is for your teens to accept the fact that their online lives are being monitored, but the alternative may be learning of problems too late and dealing with unexpected consequences instead of proactive parental guidance.

The use of social media may seem foreign to some parents, but it can be a perfect tool in maintaining a discrete distance while stepping up to the parenting plate when appropriate.

by Scott Lindsay