So how did you influence your teen social media was harmful and to stay off it-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-as much as possible. I feel like I lost already. Thank goodness for Catholic schools which in my area, enforces no phones and extremely limited computer time.
I feel like showing them every nasty, negative article including murder connected stories linked to social media.

I have been a criminal defense attorney and a prosecutor. I talked openly with my tween and teen about the non-privileged information I could share about my work. I always ask police officers what parents are missing or not attaching enough importance to. I typically come away with good information. I was in court with a middle school SRO from FCPS one day and asked him what one piece of advice he would give me as the parent of a middle school girl. “Don’t let her have Snapchat.” That was an eye opener.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we bought my son his first phone, we set it up so any new apps have to be approved by us. We told him no social media and also deleted the internet browser. Somewhat surprisingly, he has not pushed back.

Because he has a private vpn and enjoying his freedom under the radar 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We didn't. We taught them to use it correctly, somewhat monitor their activities, and taught them healthy limits.

We learned from my sister's and BIL's mistakes with their oldest (twins). They allowed no smartphones (flip, dumb phones only) and no social media. No computers or tablets were allowed in their rooms. Electronics got locked up at night. Video game systems were for weekends only and very limited. They were also locked up between uses.

Both basically flunked out of college. Twin 1 was put on academic probation and then after failing to maintain a C average the second semester, asked to complete 2 semesters at a junior or community college with a C average to be allowed to continue at the university. He ended up failing at community college as well. Twin 2 did so poorly in his first fall semester that the college advised him against continuing there in Spring because even if he was a rockstar his 2nd semester, it'd be a miracle for him to get a C average. Both flunked out because they had unlimited access to their computers, tablets, phones, and video games. They were unable to regulate themselves.

Twin 2 did finally graduate college this past May. He took 3 years off and then did 2 years at a community college before being accepted to GMU. Twin 1 has zero desire to do college. He works a minimum wage job and spends the rest of his time gaming.

Alternatively, these were kids with personalities subject to that kind of addiction, who would've cratered themselves earlier.

I bet it’s actually a third scenario. The type of parents who would maintain that kind of psychotic control over high school age kids are likely helicopter parents to the extreme. They probably flunked out because they never learned to function on multiple levels without their parents doing everything for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch the Social Dilemma with your child. It is eye opening. My DD was disgusted to learn how tech companies design social media not just to be addictive but to predict and control behavior. She believes that by not getting sucked in to social media regardless of what her friends are doing she is beating the game.

This. I’ve discussed this with them since they were young. And told that that TikTok is pysops warfare, st least propaganda, perhaps designed to induce depression and suicide.

omfg