Device time limits and prerequisites, and periodically check-ins (hey, what are you doing/watching?)
Even with all this, it's obvious that the influence is very strong
Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
11–20 of 405 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#12A good start is to avoid giving them a smartphone until they're in high school. And once they have a smartphone require them to get permission from you before installing any social media apps, with consequences if they don't follow the rules (take the phone away). Make the consequences known up front, rather than reactive so they know the guidelines regarding their phone use. And whatever you do DO NOT give your chil…
Having caved on this idea, I 100% agree
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#13They don't really have any interest in social media as we use them. It's likely there will be some other new form of social media, probably something more metaverse like Roblox or Minecraft. As a kid, I remember we had these things on TV and people would dial on phones just to have messages show up on TV. It seems kind of the same with Gen Alpha and YouTube. There's all these things like Discord, but they feel more l…
> They don't really have any interest in social media as we use them. This seems misleading, even if it's true. My kids keep asking for TikTok/Instagram etc access. Because their friends have these apps. Seeing certain messaging will them have a similar impact that it does on older individuals.
Yeah, I find it completely implausible that kids wouldn’t have interest in social media. Perhaps the OP is using a very restrictive definition that excludes TikTok and instagram.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#14You don’t need to worry that much. Most people turn out pretty OK despite their parents screw-ups and best intentions.
lol, take a quick peek at your home’s Internet access logs. You’ll almost certainly find opportunities for some parenting / teaching moments.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#15So we compromised on giving them devices/phones (with restricted access) but in return, got them to agree that they will not use social media of any kind at least until 18.
I think it is very difficult in today's world to prohibit completely. It may create more rebellion down the road and I like to be open with my kids. A little bit of device is not end of the world as long as you control it which we do.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#16i cast a shielding spell if you believe in religion can plug
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#17You don’t need to worry that much. Most people turn out pretty OK despite their parents screw-ups and best intentions.
That is pretty dangerous position to take. “That much” is a very vague line. It is more true that more kids turn out to be fine when their parents care, than when they don’t.
But I’m not saying “don’t care.”
I’m saying that if you screw up sometimes but generally have good intentions your kid is probably going to be fine.
But it is also your right to try to figure out the perfect thing to do in every situation.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#18You don’t need to worry that much. Most people turn out pretty OK despite their parents screw-ups and best intentions.
lol, take a quick peek at your home’s Internet access logs. You’ll almost certainly find opportunities for some parenting / teaching moments.
Isn’t the teachable moment to realize your kids are going to see those things no matter what I do? Kids on the internet see all sorts of stuff and almost all of them end up fine.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#19A good start is to avoid giving them a smartphone until they're in high school. And once they have a smartphone require them to get permission from you before installing any social media apps, with consequences if they don't follow the rules (take the phone away). Make the consequences known up front, rather than reactive so they know the guidelines regarding their phone use. And whatever you do DO NOT give your chil…
I’ve got a friend who did this. His 13yr old daughter craved instagram and snuck access. The story sounded like parents of the previous generation catching their kids smoking and drinking. I’m pretty sure the prohibition didn’t work and added the spice of forbidden. I don’t know the answer, but I suspect full prohibition isn’t it.
I've got a brother who did this. His son is about to graduate med school in the 98th percentile.
More seriously, it's not beyond the pale to introduce them to the internet. The more important thing is to put off handhelds for as long as possible.
Re: Ask HN: How do you prevent the impact of social media on your children?
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is pretty dangerous position to take. “That much” is a very vague line. It is more true that more kids turn out to be fine when their parents care, than when they don’t.
But I’m not saying “don’t care.” I’m saying that if you screw up sometimes but generally have good intentions your kid is probably going to be fine. But it is also your right to try to figure out the perfect thing to do in every situation.
Fair enough