February 16, 2024
The role of a parent, teacher, or caregiver in today’s digital landscape is critical for our youth. Kids are spending more time on their electronic devices and social media than ever before. Parents need to have open conversations and set boundaries that work best for their families. Children should feel safe sharing the very real harms they encounter online and ultimately pave the way for change. Both parents and children play a pivotal role in addressing these harms.
We know parents make the best decisions for their children if they have the information they need. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we created a downloadable PowerPoint presentation at socialharms.utah.gov.
The purpose of this “parent presentation” is to:
- Educate you and our youth about the harmful aspects of social media.
- Encourage open discussion with the youth in your life about the harms of social media and how to avoid them.
- Give you tools and resources to have tough conversations about social media and technology with your kids.
- Empower you and your family to disconnect from social media and reconnect in real life.
With slides that have up-to-date local and national statistics stating how “almost 60% of teen girls say they’ve been contacted on social media by a stranger in ways that made them feel uncomfortable,” and “almost 18% of youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year,”—it really puts into perspective how serious this issue is.
The presentation includes a video from Governor Cox talking to parents and youth about this issue and why it needs to be at the forefront of our minds. It has suggested discussion questions in the speaker notes to spark conversation and hear different points of view.
What’s unique about this presentation is that it can be adapted to your needs. Use the slides to best suit your situation—whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation with your child at the dinner table or presenting to a youth group. All you have to do is download it.
We need brave parents who have the courage to set boundaries for their children. The socialharms.utah.gov website offers data and ideas to help parents and caregivers navigate the digital landscape we live in, protect families, and disconnect to reconnect.
This topic can feel overwhelming for parents, but together we can help our children foster real relationships, set boundaries on device usage, and see improvements in mental health.