Social Media Might Help Shaping Children’s Identity
While we have to be mindful of our children’s online interactions, some recent research shows that social media sites can actually help a child form her/his own identity.
This can begin by shaping how your child interacts with others on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. If you can help guide them to have consistent, public, positive social interactions online, this can help boost their self-esteem.
At this link, sociologist Christine Carter discusses further thoughts on how important it is to teach children how to act online with their friends. It shows how positive interactions online can help put a smile on your child’s face!
Three keys to this positive online experience relate to:
- How your child wants to be perceived and reputation management.
- Who they want to be…there are ways to use Facebook and other social media to help them get there.
- How they want to influence the world
Carter’s takeaway is that parents need to give children clear guidelines and participate with them online, using their inevitable mistakes as teaching moments. Do you have any teachable moments to share regarding your child’s online experience? Please share in the comments!