Social media has become an integral part of our greater society, hasn't it? Although viewed by many concerned parents as problematic, it can be a positive parenting tool when managed correctly, especially from the beginning. 

Being a parent in the 21st century is not much different from being a parent in the preceding centuries. The role of parents may be a bit more complicated with both parents working full time and relying on third-party childcare, but parents still try to do the best for their children, no matter what challenges the century presents.

Good parenting still depends greatly on the age-old tried and tested blueprint to raising responsible and well-balanced children. This roadmap involves a whole lot of love, understanding, discipline, and most of all, meaningful communication.

Social media is a communication tool. The role media platforms play in a child’s life is lined with many positive aspects, like creative expression and learning to socialize in a responsible way. Like all lessons we teach our children, we should never neglect to teach them how to interact safely on social media platforms from the start.

Changing Circumstances & Social Media

Let’s face it: the Covid-19 pandemic upset our freedom to socialize IRL. It turns out that being masked 24/7 like a superhero can be rather limiting.

During this trying time, we all depended on social media platforms as our go-to form of communication with the outside world. After all, we are social beings. Isolation, including social distancing, is a harsh request by any standard, especially for young children who mostly live in the moment and depend on social interaction. We may not be able to see it completely now, but there are effects so far on children born some years before, during, and after the pandemic. 

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Tik-Tok bridged the raging antisocial flood-waters to at least allow virtual social interaction. Children who were otherwise deprived of social activities with their close circle of friends found an escape hatch from confinement through the Internet.

Using Social Media to Make Parenting Easier 

We are all aware of the many dangers that lurk on the Internet. Still, we just can't place an outright ban on social media platforms. Children will find a way to connect online with or without their parents’ consent. The best parents can do is educate themselves and have an honest open relationship with their children about responsible behavior on the Internet.

Social media can empower parents to keep a closer eye on their child’s online activities. The best way to allow your child to socialize and express their creativity on social media platforms is to talk openly. This includes:

• The benefits of digital media literacy, collaborative learning, and creative expression.
• Privacy protection. Limit sharing personal information as a means to keep cyberbullying or predators at bay. 
• Have a discussion about how your child wants to be treated online. Use posting honest and positive comments as a standard to encourage being treated fairly by others.
• Teach your child about online behavior using practical examples from the different platforms. 
• Talk less and listen more to your child. The ratio of parents listening to talking should be 5-1. Parents should listen for 5 minutes to every minute they speak.
• Show an interest in their growing computer literacy skills or their ranking on multiplayer games hosted by platforms like Facebook. Take time to listen to what they have learnt about different cultures from their global friendship network. Show an interest in your child’s online activities.

Before you let your child free on social media platforms, you need to establish ground rules that are not too restricting, but are designed to create safe online interaction boundaries. 

Much like you teach your child the basic rules in your home, you should expand your rules to include this new-age form of communication. Family time at the dinner table should be a mobile device-free zone, for example. Social media time, like school, sports, casual hangouts, and sleep time should have their place and be limited. 

Parents should also always be able to easily communicate with their children at any time of the day via WhatsApp or other preferred apps.

Social media platforms can be viewed as a daily activity that takes the pressure off parents who need time to tend to other family tasks. As long as the rules of engagement are respected and adhered to, both parents and children benefit from the good fun and learning to be had from being socially active through technology. 

Connecting with Extended Family

Most families only connect with extended family members on special occasions, but this is not enough time for children to really build a bond with cousins, uncles, aunts, or grandparents.

Social media facilitates relationships between family members that live in different towns, states, or countries. Sharing thoughts, photographs, or giving updates on a project in the process all help to build family relationships. 

The spinoff from this is that the holidays can be more meaningfully planned to include family members who have developed an online friendship.

Sharing Moments and Memories

Facebook and other platforms are a great way to share special moments and memories. No matter where you are in the world, if you have an Internet connection, you can share those special moments with family and friends.

Some creative people have taken to YouTube to document their travels or projects, and to interact with their subscribers in the process. Try connecting with your child by watching a few of their favorite YouTubers. You can genuinely show interest while keeping an eye out on their content consumption. And who knows? Maybe you all can come up with some creative videos to bond.

Use KeaBabies to Animate Your Holidays!

We are excited to launch a new set of animated stickers for Instagram and Facebook! You may find them by typing @keababiesusa (include the @-symbol) while searching for GIFs when you're making a story. 

Let us help you connect on social media with fun holiday-themed GIFs such as the classic Christmas tree, reindeer, snowflakes, and presents as well as hilarious gingerbread cookies and cute animals! 

Conclusion

Communication between parents and their children is vital regardless of whether social media is used in the home or not. Trust is built and nurtured in relationships. Through trust comes openness and honesty, which is the glue that binds better than duct tape.

Building a good relationship with your children should start from birth, and although being a parent is essential, being a friend who listens and offers sound advice will cement a solid relationship between parents and their children for life. Good communication is the first key to safe social media use.