Our children and Social Media. As parents, what is our responsibility?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the influence of social media on kids.

As a parent of a teen and another child who will be one soon, the subject hits home for me. We worry about the influence of social media on kids.

Some want to ban it for anyone under 16. I’m not against the ban. However, does controlling access solve the problem? When something is off-limits, we often want it more. Prohibition rarely works. Instead, it takes them to something more appealing where they get attention. This slowly becomes a problem, as when they don’t receive attention (likes), the real issue emerges. Phones or social media are not the only problem. Parenting is where it starts.

The conversation often turns to restricting access. But do you think control is really the solution, or the first line of defense? The truth is, prohibition can often make something more appealing. I believe the real challenge isn't with the technology itself, but in how we parent.

We often give kids devices to occupy them during our own busy moments—at the gym, during dinner, or with friends. Over time, that device becomes their sanctuary.

We, as parents, will have to take the first responsibility and accountability. Instead of building walls, we need to create awareness. We need to be more involved in their lives. Listening to our children as much as possible, rather than telling them what to do, will go a long way.

This is a work in progress for my family, but I trust we're moving in the right direction by focusing on conversation and understanding rather than just rules.

What do you think? Are we ready to parent intentionally in the digital age?