Social Media with Children/Teens

by Sharon Ely Pearson
Austin McCann posted recently on Faith Village an article along with handouts regarding a workshop he held at his church, Christ Community Chapel in Ohio for parents called “Social Media 101.” Below are resources he developed for parents to help them understand social media and give them some guidance in how to parent their teens in regard to social media. He writes:
Teens eat, breathe, and sleep social media. Someone has said that this generation is the “technology everywhere generation.” No matter where or what teens are doing, they are usually connected to some social media network. Whether that’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, they are hyper-connected and social media has become how they do life. This creates a huge task for parents. The goal of parenting is not just protecting, it’s preparing teens to become godly adults who make wise choices. So parents must learn how to parent their teens in regard to social media. To do that, parents must not watch from the side lines or just protect their teens from having a Facebook or Twitter account. They must become missionaries into the teen social media culture. They must know it, navigate it, and be in it.
Below are documents (links download handouts) that may be useful to both parents and children on how to keep themselves safe on Social Media:
Parent tip Sheet: Common Sense on Social Media
Parent tip Sheet: Common Sense on Facebook
Community Discussion Guide: Social Networks
Austin McCann posted recently on Faith Village an article along with handouts regarding a workshop he held at his church, Christ Community Chapel in Ohio for parents called “Social Media 101.” Below are resources he developed for parents to help them understand social media and give them some guidance in how to parent their teens in regard to social media. He writes:
Teens eat, breathe, and sleep social media. Someone has said that this generation is the “technology everywhere generation.” No matter where or what teens are doing, they are usually connected to some social media network. Whether that’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, they are hyper-connected and social media has become how they do life. This creates a huge task for parents. The goal of parenting is not just protecting, it’s preparing teens to become godly adults who make wise choices. So parents must learn how to parent their teens in regard to social media. To do that, parents must not watch from the side lines or just protect their teens from having a Facebook or Twitter account. They must become missionaries into the teen social media culture. They must know it, navigate it, and be in it.
Below are documents (links download handouts) that may be useful to both parents and children on how to keep themselves safe on Social Media:
Parent tip Sheet: Common Sense on Social Media
Parent tip Sheet: Common Sense on Facebook
Community Discussion Guide: Social Networks
Good Book for Reference

Is there a parent anywhere who hasn't asked, "How do we create a media safe home for our kids?" Adam McLane and Mark Oestreicher are two of America's leading experts on teen culture and this book is a must read for parents who want to grasp just how the ever changing world of social media is influencing their kids. This is my new "go to" book on the subject.
Click HERE to go to Amazon and buy book.
Click HERE to go to Amazon and buy book.