Parents can help their kids avoid social media overload by keeping their conversations short and simple, according to a study released Tuesday.
“Teaching a simple yet effective message about social media can make a huge difference in the long run,” says Lauren Schmitt, a researcher at the University of Washington and co-author of the study.
The research looked at how a number of factors affect the number of social media users in the U.S. The study focused on teens aged 13-17, but it’s likely that other ages may be affected.
While social media is a popular tool for younger kids, Schmitt says it can be an especially powerful tool for teenagers.
“When kids are talking about social networks, their interactions are more likely to be a little bit more intense,” she says.
The more time kids spend on social media, the more they are likely to “over-promise and under-deliver,” Schmitt explains.
“The more time they spend on the social networks and the longer they spend interacting with them, the longer the over-delivery time is and the more people are left out.”
Parents need to stay engaged in the messaging, Schmit says, so they can keep a watchful eye on what their kids are doing.
“You can really start to notice how the communication is getting interrupted by other things, like kids playing with their phones,” she said.
“If you see that, then that could be an opportunity for your child to have some time to do something else.”
If kids are being overly social, that could put a strain on their relationship with parents, Schachtsmit says.
She also notes that children tend to take their time to process what’s going on on social networks.
“That is when they are most able to communicate and understand what’s happening, and when you see a lot of kids taking their time and not being able to process that, that’s when they start to see the social media effects,” she explains.
The researchers say parents should be aware of the potential effects on their children and take steps to help avoid the pitfalls.
The best way to help children stay focused is to stay in the moment, Schitt says.
“Don’t think about your kids’ social media activities as a chore, and don’t get distracted by it.”
Be mindful of how your social media activity affects other people’s social networks as well, she advises.
“Be aware of what people are saying, and how they are doing it,” she adds.
“This can be very difficult when kids are on social platforms, and they may not be in the same place at the same time.”
For more tips on how to keep kids in check, check out our previous article: 8 ways to help kids avoid the “Twitter rush”
