The numbers don’t lie. In 2022 alone, over 95% of U.S. students had access to a smartphone, and 46% of teens said they use the internet “almost constantly.” Social media has become an integral part of students’ lives. While social media allows our students to connect with others and express themselves, it can also present challenges, especially when it comes to safety. Now more than ever, it’s critical that educators take an active role in helping students stay safe online.
By empowering your students to follow these five social media tips, you can help them use social media safely and thrive online!
1. PERSONALIZE YOUR PRIVACY SETTINGS
What are privacy settings?
Students can find privacy settings within nearly every social media app. By tailoring these settings, students can remain in control of:
- How their personal information is collected
- Who can see their posts or view their profile
- What they see on their social media feeds
Students can personalize these privacy settings by:
- Adjusting their profile’s visibility: Most social media platforms let users choose who can and can’t view their posts. By adjusting their profile’s visibility, students limit the possibility of cyberbullying, identity theft, and more.
- Blocking/Unfriending/Denying requests: Encourage your students to block or unfriend people who they don’t want to interact with or who they don’t know. This feature reduces the risk of cyberbullying and allows students to feel more comfortable with being authentic online.
- Reviewing App Permissions: When students review their app’s privacy policies, they can make more informed choices about their online presence.
- Setting up two-factor authentication: Students can enable two-factor authentication for certain apps, which adds another layer of protection to their accounts by requiring them to provide a second form of identification before logging on.
2. AVOID SHARING FRIENDS’ OR FAMILIES’ CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION
Why is it important to get permission before sharing others’ content?
Talking to someone before sharing a photo or video of them online may seem simple, but students often miss this step before posting on social media. The reality is that everyone deserves to feel comfortable regarding their online presence. With this in mind, encourage your students to consider the following before they post a photo of a friend, family member, or even somebody at school online:
- Respect Others’ Privacy and Reputation: Posting a picture of someone without their consent could make them feel uncomfortable. It is always better to seek their permission before sharing their image on social media. The internet is forever, and pictures shared online can have a lasting impact on someone’s reputation. Before posting a picture, consider if it could potentially harm the person’s reputation or hurt their feelings. If so, sharing it online might not be the best move.
- Build Trust: Seeking permission before sharing a photo of our friends or family members can help to build trust with the important people in our lives. By taking the extra step to ask before they post, your students can build strong relationships and connect with others in a meaningful way.
3. KEEP YOUR DATA SECURE
What data?
Social media apps collect vast amounts of data from students. From their personal information, like their names or phone numbers, to their payment information or even their physical locations! With this in mind, educators can encourage students to think critically about the personal information they share on apps like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more.
Help Your Students Secure Their Data and Think Critically with these questions:
- Am I okay with having the people who follow me know where I am right now?
- Who is going to see the information about myself that I post?
- Is there any private information in the background of my photo?
4. PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Students, in particular, face many challenges when it comes to balancing social media and their mental health. 22% of students said that social media negatively affects their mental health. To combat this, encourage your students to protect their mental well-being by:
- Using screen-time limits to set boundaries with their social media accounts on the top apps they use.
- Unfollowing people and influencers who make them feel bad about themselves or cause drama. For every person, they unfollow, challenge them to follow a role model or positive influencer online!
- Being mindful of how they feel while scrolling through their feeds. Simply ask yourself, “When does social media make me feel good? And when does it make me feel bad?” Once you’ve evaluated your feelings in relation to social media, it’s easier to take the next steps and notice how you feel in the present moment.
5. REPORT INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT
This last tip not only helps your students keep themselves safe but also allows them to protect tons of other social media users.
Some examples of inappropriate content students see on social media include:
- Cyberbullying
- Hate speech
- Fake news
- Negative spam accounts
A 2022 study found that 53% percent of students believe that cyberbullying is a major problem online, and your students likely believe the same. You can empower your students to report the negative things they see online by helping them understand that they are protecting their friends, other students, and even strangers when they report these things. When students feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves, they often feel inspired to take action.
TSI’s Take
Social media has become the norm in many students’ lives, and yes – this new norm does come with safety challenges and concerns. But at the end of the day, educators have the opportunity to empower students to protect their privacy online. As students continue to navigate their digital worlds, educators have the chance to be their guides. Learn more strategies for protecting student privacy by watching our webinar, National Cybersecurity Expert Shares Tips to Help Students Protect Their Privacy here.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.