These days, everyone seems to be aware of the dangers of social media. Despite this, social media use is increasingly on the rise, with recent estimates placing social media users at around 3.78 billion people.

Social media is used by people from all age groups, but these figures can sometimes skew towards younger demographics. For today’s post, we’re discussing ways you can help your children practice good habits and stay safe while using social media, especially if you and your loved ones are currently going through any divorce or family law issues. 

Talk to Them About the Risks of Sexting and other Inappropriate Interactions

With hormones in full rage, kids sometimes make very dumb decisions when using the internet. That said, it’s important that your kids understand the dangers of sexting, sending sexually-explicit content, and engaging with sexually-charged or explicit content especially when under the age of 18. Not only can these behaviors jeopardize any custody or visitation rights, but your child and/or yourself could find yourself on the wrong end of a criminal charge. Not only that, but there are many people online who are actively looking to exploit or blackmail minors. 

Keep Tabs on Cyberbullying

It’s important that your kids understand one thing about the internet: these days it is simply an extension of the real world in many ways. This means they need to make sure they are always kind and don’t get involved in any kind of drama or mess, and they have to stay vigilant and on the lookout for cyberbullying, stalkers, or other forms of abusive behaviors. Help them spot toxic behaviors and make sure your children aren’t perpetrating any cyberbullying on their end.

Don’t Rely on Just Blockers and Parental Restriction Tools

While there are many great high tech tools that can help keep your kids safe, don’t underestimate their ability to circumvent said tools. Kids are often resourceful and above all, they have time to try and crack through your defenses. While you should certainly lean into parental blockers, filters, and other similar tools, you should also be active and involved in knowing about what your child gets up to. Ask yourself questions such as what does he/she like to look at online, what social media sites is he/she registered in, etc.

Talk to a Family Law Attorney in CA

Keep these tips in mind as you help your loved ones navigate the potential minefield that is social media and general online use. We hope this post gave you a place to start, but if you have any questions about these issues in relation to family law, reach out to us today! We schedule initial consultations at the White Oak Law. 

Call us at 925-271-0999 today to schedule a initial consultation.