Social Media
Apps Parents Should Know
Apps change daily, and the below list is not exhaustive nor permanent. SSPD encourages ongoing conversations with your children about social media, guidelines and the associated dangers and risks.
Topics that could be discussed include:
- Safety (if you don't know someone: establishing boundaries, don't share personal information, don't ever pay money),
- Dangers and risks with sending nude photographs (whether you know the person or not: permanency-even on sites that say they delete it, emotional harm, revenge porn, sextortion, and legal risks),
- Discuss who are adults your children trusts they can talk to about online relationships and interactions,
- Make a plan for if something goes wrong (how do they come and talk to you and what do you do).
- Be aware that scammers and those who bully discuss wanting your child to "kill themselves" or "wish they were dead."
These are difficult topics, but it is better to talk about it directly and before something happens.
Social Media Tips for Parents of Teens
- Early on, be very hands on
- Hold your firmest boundaries at night - no screens after 9pm or in bedrooms overnight
- Help teens understand how social media affects their brains
- Ask "Do you feel like you have control over social media, OR do you feel like it's controlling you?
- Encourage teens to ask: “Do I feel bad about myself while looking at this?”
- With older teens especially, lead conversations with curiosity, not judgment
Snapchat Tips
Allows for temporary, self-deleting content
- Know Snapchat Friends - If they don't know them in real life, don't add them
- Change contact settings to "My Friends"
- Disable "Show Me In Quick Add"
- Enable "Ghost Mode" to prevent location sharing
- Limit Sensitive Content in "Stories" and "Spotlight"
- Know about the "For My Eyes Only" Section
- Additional tips can be found on the Snapchat Family Safety Hub
Discord Tips
Connect with friends while playing video games via text chat or voice includes public servers with unmoderated content
- Monitor Server Access - If they don't know them in real life, don't add them
- Turn Off "Allow Direct Messages from Server Members"
- Restrict Friend Requests to "Friends of Friends" instead of everyone
- Block Access to Specific Servers
- Check Connected Accounts
- Disable "Streamer Mode"
- Additional tips can be found on the Discord Family Center for Parents and Guardians
Telegram Tips
Allows users to private message, group chat, share files with fewer content restrictions and included access to encrypted messaging and self-destructive content.
- Phone Number Access - Requires a phone number - use parent's phone number
- Secret Chats - allows for disappearing messages
- Watch for extremist content, pornography, or criminal activity
- Block Access to Specific Servers
- Designed for anonymity with fewer safeguards
- Often involves fake investments, crypto schemes
- Additional information on Telegram