In 2021, Sammy Chapman was 16 years old, a straight-A student, and getting ready to apply for college. Like most parents, Samuel Chapman and Dr. Laura Berman worked hard to keep Sammy away from dangerous people and places — but they had no idea that drug dealers were preying on kids through Snapchat and social media platforms.
Or that drugs could be delivered to their house as easily as a pizza.
One night, a drug dealer connected with Sammy on Snapchat. Sammy returned to his bedroom with a drug that unknowingly contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. Tragically, he didn’t realize what he was taking, and it cost him his life.
Sammy’s death prompted his parents to create Sammy’s Law — a proposed measure that would require social media companies to integrate with child safety apps. What is Sammy’s Law, and why is now the time for lawmakers to act? Let’s discuss.
Sammy’s Law (H.R. 5778) would require social media companies to work with child online safety apps, empowering parents to more effectively monitor their children’s online activities.
Currently, social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok prevent parents from having full access to their child’s online activities. While these platforms claim to offer parental controls, they often don’t address serious risks, such as enabling strangers to communicate with minors. For example, Snapchat allows parents to see who their kids are messaging, and Instagram defaults teen accounts to private. But parents can’t see what kinds of messages their kids receive or what appears on their feeds.
Some child safety apps are able to show parents more detail about worrisome content. But oftentimes, social platforms don’t allow third-party apps to access important information. Parents are left in the dark about potential dangers like cyberbullying, predators, and drug solicitation in their child’s messages and activity.
Sammy’s Law seeks to change that by requiring social media companies to integrate with third-party safety apps.
Sammy’s Law is a bipartisan effort that addresses a critical gap in online child safety. While many platforms offer limited parental control features, they often fall short in identifying serious threats.
By allowing third-party apps to access social media data, parents can receive alerts about potentially harmful content, enabling timely interventions. For instance, if a child is exposed to self-harm content or dangerous drug offers, a safety app could notify the parents, helping to prevent tragic outcomes like Sammy’s.
Sammy’s Law would:
This integration would drastically change the landscape of social media monitoring.
Sammy’s Law gives parents the ability to be alerted to concerning content and interactions, without having to look through every individual message or post. Currently, platforms like Snapchat offer minimal parental review, focusing on general tools that don’t provide real-time alerts for serious issues. With Sammy’s Law, parents would have more options to effectively understand their children’s activity and interactions online.
Parents can support Sammy’s Law by:
Sammy’s Law represents a crucial step in protecting children in the digital age. By requiring social media companies to work with third-party safety apps, it empowers parents to play an active role in their children’s online safety. More effective parental monitoring has the potential to save lives, which makes this legislation a significant and necessary development.
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If your child set up their own TikTok account, there’s a good chance they don’t have a TikTok password. You can create a TikTok account using just a phone number — which isn’t exactly a good password for TikTok.
As a parent, it’s a good idea to set a password that you know. That way, you can help them get back into a locked account, make sure they’re using a secure password, and link your child’s account to a parental monitoring tool.
Most importantly, if you have a password, you can access your child’s account even if you don’t have their device. This could be useful if you have safety concerns and need to check their account or change their password on TikTok.
But how do you do it? Here’s how to set up your child’s TikTok password.
From your child’s phone:
That’s it! Now you can help your child get into their account if they end up locked out, and you can check in on their TikTok usage if you have safety concerns.
While you’re there, now’s a good time to set up TikTok Family Sharing if you haven’t already. This feature allows you to link your account with your child’s so you can monitor their activity, set restrictions around who can chat with them, and set limits for their daily activity.
If you want to update your child’s password, the process is similar: navigate to Settings and Privacy, tap account, tap password, and enter the security code sent to your child’s phone number or email. Then, you’ll be able to change the password.
Keep in mind that a good password for TikTok (and any other account) hits the following metrics:
This is a great opportunity to talk to your child about password security. Explain to them why they shouldn’t use personal information in a password (like a birthdate or the name of their pet), and discuss best password practices together — such as never writing passwords down on a piece of paper, which can be easily misplaced.
It’s also a good idea to let your child know that they may not change any passwords without your permission. If you haven’t already done so, set up a digital device contract that covers device use and how to manage logins.
Adding a password to your child’s TikTok account is easy — all you need is your child’s phone. Use the password conversation as a way to talk about online security and why you should manage their logins until they’re older.
Having access to your child’s TikTok password can help them access their account if they get locked out, allows you to use monitoring tools like BrightCanary, and helps you check on their activity. As always, keep an open dialogue with your child about their social media activity and what to do if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable online.
In the age of digital media, the line between friendship and fandom is often blurred. If your child spends a lot of time online, they probably have favorite personalities they follow closely. But when does this adoration cross the line into what’s known as a “parasocial relationship,” and what does that mean for your child?
In the simplest terms, parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships where one party feels a deep, personal connection to the other, who likely doesn’t even know they exist.
It’s akin to your child thinking they’re best friends with a popular YouTube gamer or TikTok dancer, even though the influencer doesn’t know them at all. Your child may follow the influencer’s lives keenly, feeling a connection when the influencer shares a story, cracks a joke, or talks about their personal experiences. But there’s little or no reciprocation.
These relationships can have positive aspects. For instance, they can provide a sense of community, especially for kids who feel different or isolated. Influencers can inspire creativity, foster learning, and even stimulate interest in important social issues. An influencer who promotes healthy habits or encourages educational content can be a positive role model.
But this kind of relationship can be unhealthy if your child gets too invested in it, confuses it for a real friendship, or is taken advantage of by the influencer. In one extreme example, young fans of an influencer in her 30s alleged that she had essentially used them for therapy, asked inappropriate sexual questions, and got a 15-year-old boy to manage her social media accounts for free.
The key lies in understanding and managing these relationships in a way that ensures they have a positive impact on your child’s development, rather than letting them turn into an unhealthy obsession.
The environment social media platforms create is personal, intimate, and designed to foster a sense of connection between users. Influencers are adept at using this space, sharing snippets of their lives that followers consume with gusto. They may respond to comments, “like” fan posts, or share personal stories, all of which intensify the sense of closeness followers feel.
In 2021, 18% of American kids aged 8-12 used social media every day; the number is likely higher today. Two-thirds of U.S. teens follow influencers. Combined, the tendency to check-in on influencers’ lives every day creates enormous potential for these parasocial relationships to form.
Children, particularly those in their preteen and early teenage years, are at a critical stage where they are learning about social relationships and connections. The drive to understand and belong often pushes them to form these virtual bonds. Their brains, still developing and prone to absorb influences, are more susceptible to falling into these relationships without realizing it.
Being aware of the signs of unhealthy parasocial relationships can help you intervene effectively. Here are some warning signs:
The presence of these signs doesn’t necessarily mean your child is being taken advantage of. However, they are indicators that it’s time for a conversation to help your child understand their online relationships better.
First, make sure you know which influencers your child follows and what kind of content those influencers are sharing. The best way to do this is through a monitoring app — so you can see exactly what the influencers are posting and how your child is engaging with them — but you can also ask your kids who they follow and follow those influencers yourself.
Then, raise the topic with your kids. Here’s how:
In a world where the line between real and virtual continues to blur, understanding and navigating parasocial relationships is crucial for every parent. While these relationships aren’t necessarily harmful, they can become problematic if misunderstood or mismanaged.
As parents, being proactive, maintaining open communication, and staying alert to the warning signs are key to ensuring your child enjoys their digital journey while also understanding the difference between real and virtual relationships. The goal isn’t to vilify social media or influencers, but to equip your child with the understanding needed to navigate the online world safely and healthily.
A recent study by Canadian researchers tested whether using less social media could make teens and young adults feel better about their bodies.
About 22% of children and adolescents struggle with disordered eating, which can lead to serious mental and physical issues. One of the predictors of developing an eating disorder is poor self-esteem and low body image.
But can cutting back on social media improve kids’ self-esteem? Here’s what the study found.
In 2021, researchers recruited 220 participants for a randomized controlled trial. The participants were 17-to-24-year-old undergraduate Canadians (76% female, 23% male) struggling with depression or anxiety. Half of them were told to use social media for just one hour a day for three weeks. If they used it for more than an hour, they got a reminder email. The other half were allowed to use social media as much as they wanted.
The participants submitted screenshots of their smartphones’ daily screen time reports. Social media platforms tracked in this study included Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Not included were video streaming services — like YouTube or Netflix — or messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Participants were asked questions about their weight and body image before and after the three-week period.
While not everyone stuck to the one-hour limit, on average, the people in the restricted group cut their social media time by half. They used social media for only 78 minutes per day, while participants in the unrestricted group used social media for 188 minutes per day.
After three weeks of using less social media, young people of both genders felt better about their bodies and reported higher levels of self-esteem and body image. There was no change to these metrics in the unrestricted group.
Most studies measuring the impact of social media are only correlational — i.e. they tell us if there’s an association between social media use and negative effects, but they don’t tell us if social media causes the negative effects.
Because of the way this study was conducted, it shows social media use has a direct negative impact on body image. And, most importantly, it shows us that using less social media can actually help improve body image and self-esteem.
It only lasted three weeks, so we don’t know if these improvements would last longer. The study only tracked social media use on phones, not other devices. And it only looked at people who were feeling anxious or depressed, so we don’t know if the results would be the same for everyone.
This study suggests that parents should encourage teenagers to limit their social media use to about an hour a day in order to support a healthy body image and self-esteem. In addition, videos featuring disordered eating are rampant on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram; educate yourself about this type of content and discuss the topic with your kids.
A growing body of experts recommend monitoring your child’s online activity, so you can talk to them about concerning content as soon as it crops up. BrightCanary gives you visibility into your child’s social feeds and messages, Google and YouTube searches, and texts. To help your kids develop healthy digital habits, it’s important to have open conversations with them about the potential impact of social media use on mental health.
Summer’s here, and with school out, screen time for kids tends to shoot up. But it’s not all bad news. This downtime provides a prime opportunity to help teens learn to manage their own technology use — an essential skill in today’s digital age.
Thankfully, there are apps designed to help with this by fostering healthy digital habits that guide our teens towards more mindful tech use. Teens often mirror what they see, so adopting one of these apps for yourself could model healthy behaviors. Openly discuss your own challenges with tech distractions and overuse; it’ll show your teen that they’re not alone in navigating this digital landscape. After all, learning to manage screen time isn’t just a teen issue — it’s a lifelong skill we all need.
Here are four of the best for you to consider.
ScreenZen is an app designed to help teens gain control over their digital habits. It monitors screen time, but it also offers more active interventions to help users make meaningful changes. The app provides a comprehensive analysis of digital habits, breaking down app usage and identifying patterns that could lead to excessive screen time.
To start, you can set a limited number of phone “pick-ups” per day. You can also implement up to a 30-second delay before an app opens, giving you time to reconsider if you really need to check your Instagram again.
According to some users on the App Store, there can be a bit of a learning curve on how to block specific websites. But if your teen’s goal is primarily to use this app to cut down on the amount of time they’re spending on your phone, this complaint is less relevant.
ScreenZen is free, making it a great way for your teen to test out the concept of limiting their screen time without any upfront cost.
Sample user review:
As a teen I’m realizing how addictive an app can be and how I can just subconsciously tap on an app and never leave. I was looking for a self blocker to break this annoying system of going to bed too late then waking up late. Ofc there were so many apps out there trying to go for the same purpose but this app really helped me out. I also love that you can have a choice to reopen the app when it sends the “are you sure you want to continue” memo.
Can everyone give them a round of applause for the simple and practical use of this. they don’t shove advertisement in your face! There’s very few apps who don’t send spontaneously ads.
Cost: Free
Best for: Teens who want to test the idea of monitoring their screen time, but don’t aren’t interested in blocking apps and websites
AntiSocial is about comparison and competition. The app collects anonymized data and allows users to compare their phone usage with other users worldwide. This can create a sense of competition for teens, encouraging teens to reduce their screen time. You can also set daily limits and block times accordingly in the app.
While the global comparison can motivate some users to reduce their screen time, it could have the opposite effect on others, making them feel self-conscious or discouraged about their device usage. This could create unnecessary stress or anxiety for some teens.
Sample user review:
Simple, efficient, antagonistic. It really does help with phone addiction. I just wish you could activate two blocking modes at once. like a daily limit & a timer at the same time. other than that, I think it’s the best phone restriction app out there.
Cost: Free
Best for: Teens who are motivated by competition
Clearspace helps users understand their digital consumption patterns with a simple interface. It visualizes screen time data and breaks it down by app, allowing users to easily identify their digital consumption patterns. Additionally, Clearspace offers focus sessions — periods where users can dedicate time to specific tasks like homework or reading, and the app will block out any apps that might cause distractions.
While very effective in its data visualization and focus sessions, Clearspace could be seen as overly restrictive by some users. The app is strict about blocking apps during focus sessions, which could feel limiting to those who are not used to having such boundaries on their device usage. (At the same time, it can be illuminating to find out just how often you’re compelled to check your phone when you’re supposed to be doing chores around the house.)
Sample user review:
This app has a super simple concept but it has made all the difference in the world. It was super annoying at first to be blocked even when I tried to ignore it, but now my first inclination isn’t to go on social media as soon as I open my phone. It’s also a way more affordable option than other apps.
Cost: $6.99/month or $44.99/year
Best for: Teens who are interested in visualizing how much time they spend on certain apps and want support blocking distractions during focus sessions
Unpluq works a bit differently than other screen time apps. This is a physical product paired with an app. Using the Unpluq App, you can block the apps of your choice on the schedule you want (or on multiple schedules). To access apps when they’re blocked, you must go through an app barrier, like the Unpluq Tag, which is wireless and can be stored on your keychain. To use the Unpluq Tag to unblock apps, you simply hold it to the back of the phone.
There are additional “distraction barriers” you can use to unlock a specific app. For example, you have to tap a random pattern of buttons, or walk a certain number of steps.
The pro: the extra step involved of pairing the tag with the app can really help teens stick to their screen limits, especially if they keep it on a keychain that’s stored in another room when they’re at home. The con: the tag itself is not cheap, although the app with the distraction barriers is free and very useful on its own. But if your teen needs a concrete reminder to step away from the screen, the tag might be the ticket.
Sample user review:
I’ve tested an uncountable number of these distraction blocking apps/methods and this app has been the best for me. It has all the features I want, great barriers, and usually just works. The team is super communicative as well and has helped me resolve issues quickly. On average, I save about 3-4 hours a day using this, so definitely worth the premium cost for me.
Cost: free for the app, $59.95/year for the Tag (can also purchase for just 6 months at $44.95)
Best for: Teens who need the extra obstacles to make it even more difficult to check their phone one. more. time.
Maintaining an open dialogue about screen time with your teens is key. It’s crucial to acknowledge that no app is a one-size-fits-all solution. Some teens may not have the level of self-discipline required to manage their screen time on their own, and parental intervention could still be necessary. However, for those teens craving more responsibility, these apps can be an effective tool. It’s worth exploring these options as a powerful step toward developing healthy digital habits.
The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued a new Advisory and 19-page report expressing alarm about the impact of social media on adolescents’ mental health and calling out the need for more research in this area.
A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public announcement that draws the attention of the American public to a pressing public health concern and offers guidance on how to tackle it. Such advisories are issued only for substantial public health issues that demand the country’s immediate consciousness and action.
This Advisory highlights increasing worries about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. It outlines the present evidence concerning the beneficial and detrimental effects of social media on children and teenagers, the main areas of concern for mental health and well-being, and the need for further research to fully comprehend the extent and magnitude of social media’s influence.
Up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” Although age 13 is commonly the required minimum age used by social media platforms in the U.S. nearly 40% of children ages 8–12 use social media.
The Surgeon General’s report highlights some of the research that’s been done so far, such as a 2019 study conducted among 14-year-olds that found that greater social media use predicted worse sleep, online harassment, poor body image, low self-esteem, and more symptoms of depression — especially among girls.
Recently, the results of a global study found a correlation between the age someone receives a smartphone or tablet and their mental health as an adult; the earlier a child starts using a device, the more mental health issues they report as an adult.
Brain development is a critical factor to consider when assessing the risk for harm. Adolescents, ages 10 to 19, are undergoing a highly sensitive period of brain development. This is a period when risk-taking behaviors reach their peak, when well-being experiences the greatest fluctuations, and when mental health challenges such as depression typically emerge.
Scientists and psychologists have found some positive benefits to social media use for adolescents, particularly for members of marginalized groups. It can help kids feel more accepted, provide avenues for self-expression, and help them stay connected with friends. But a long-term study of U.S. teenagers aged 12-15 found that those who used social media for more than 3 hours a day were twice as likely to have problems with their mental health, including feeling depressed and anxious. This is concerning in light of the fact that preteens and teens are spending hours every day on social media — an average of 3.5 hours per day for 8th and 10th graders, according to a 2021 study.
Existing research has been mostly correlational and focused on adults. There’s an urgent need for more research on social media and youth mental health to fill knowledge gaps.
Key questions that still need to be explored include:
Nearly 70% of parents say parenting is now more difficult than it was 20 years ago, with technology and
social media as the top two cited reasons. But there are early indications that limiting how much time children and young adults spend on social media can help improve their mental health.
In a small study with college students, researchers found that if students used social media for only 30 minutes a day for three weeks, they felt less depressed. This was especially true for those who were very depressed to start with; they reported feeling 35% better after limiting social media. In another study, young adults and adults who stopped using a social media platform for four weeks felt happier, more satisfied with life, and less depressed and anxious. It’s not hard to imagine that we might see an even more dramatic improvement for kids.
In addition to limiting the time kids spend on social media, the Surgeon General’s report included these suggestions for parents:
Discuss with children the benefits and risks of social media as well as the importance of respecting privacy and protecting personal information in age-appropriate ways. Have conversations with children about who they are connecting with, their privacy settings, their online experiences, and how they are spending their time online. Empower and encourage them to seek help should they need it.
We need to give kids and their families the knowledge and tools to safely use the internet, but this responsibility should be shared. Tech companies can do things to make their platforms safer for kids and teenagers. Researchers can work on studies to help create more safety measures. Local, state, and federal governments can also make rules to protect our kids and teenagers.
In the past, the U.S. has taken action to keep kids safe. This has happened with things like toys, transportation, and medicine. The U.S. often uses a “safety-first” approach. This means that something has to be proven safe before it can be used. If it’s not proven safe, steps are taken to keep people from getting hurt.
This same approach should be used for the internet and social media. Because there’s growing proof that social media can harm some kids and teenagers, we should use a “safety-first” approach when it comes to social media. This means making sure it’s safe before letting kids and teenagers use it.
The ride-sharing company announced a new feature this week that allows families to link multiple accounts together in a centralized account. In select cities across the United States and Canada, the Family profile will also allow parents to invite their teens (ages 13–17) to create their own account, so they can request their own rides and order their own meals.
Teen accounts will launch in over a dozen U.S. cities today, including:
Teen accounts incorporate various safety measures that Uber has developed over the past five years. For instance, only highly rated, experienced drivers will be allowed to accept ride requests from teens. Parents will also have the ability to track their child’s trip progress in real time and receive information about the driver. They can contact the driver during the trip, reach out to Uber’s support team, and report any issues on behalf of their teen.
This feature will also be extended to Uber Eats, enabling teens to order food directly while allowing parents to monitor their children’s food delivery orders — so you no longer have to go back and forth with your kids over what condiments they want on their burgers.
This could be a good way to help your teenager to develop a skill they’ll need to have as an adult: ordering a ride-share service. And it’s a helpful option to have in case your kid is ever in a jam and needs a ride (or a meal) ASAP.
But like all technology advancements, whether this makes sense for your family to use depends on the age and maturity of your teenager, where you live, your schedule, and your finances. If you decide to move ahead with a teen account, you’ll likely want to do a test ride or two with your teen first and establish some guidelines before giving them the go-ahead to start using this.
These guidelines should include agreement on when and how often it’s acceptable for your child to call for a ride, what communication you require before and after the trip, and how they get approval before ordering a meal with your payment information.
Many parents are concerned about the amount of time their preteen kids spend watching YouTube videos. It’s great for keeping your kid occupied with an activity they love, but spending hours watching online videos often has a negative impact on their attitude afterwards. That’s why it’s worth finding ways to limit YouTube content that work for your family.
After all, excessive YouTube time may even lead to disinterest in doing anything else — such as homework, socializing with other kids, or playing outside. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that families create a screen time plan that works best for them, considering their children’s screen usage and their family’s unique needs.
While completely banning preteen kids from watching YouTube works for some families, there are also creative ways to allow some usage without letting it consume too much of their day.
Establishing a daily time limit for your child’s YouTube use can help prevent excessive screen time. By setting a specific amount of time, such as 30 minutes or an hour, you can help your child develop a better understanding of time management and encourage them to make more conscious decisions about what they watch. It can help to provide visual timers so your kid is aware of the time remaining.
You can limit the type of content your child can access and set restrictions on the amount of time they can spend watching videos. YouTube and various devices — like your iPad and Kindle Fire — offer built-in parental control features that allow you to filter out inappropriate content and set daily screen time limits. You can also use an app like BrightCanary to keep an eye on the content of the videos they’re watching, and get alerts when they watch something that may be concerning.
This app is specifically designed for children, featuring curated content that is suitable for younger audiences. With YouTube Kids, parents can create customized profiles for their children, set content preferences, and apply restrictions on search and video playback. For example, you can specify that your kids can only watch content from YouTube accounts that you’ve approved, so they don’t get recommended videos that lead them down rabbit holes you’d rather they not explore.
One way to ensure that your child’s YouTube time is both limited and valuable is to allow your child only to watch YouTube videos with you. This not only allows you to monitor their viewing habits but also presents an opportunity for bonding and discussion. By watching YouTube with your child, you can share your thoughts on the content, offer guidance, and help them develop critical thinking skills.
Limit your preteen’s YouTube viewing to videos that explain how to do something or teach a new skill. This can include cooking tutorials, DIY projects, or other educational content that aligns with their interests. By promoting learning-focused videos, you help your child make better use of their screen time and support their interest in new topics and hobbies.
Allow your child to watch YouTube only after they’ve completed their homework and chores for the day. This strategy turns YouTube time into a reward, teaching your preteen the importance of responsibility and time management. It also ensures that they prioritize their daily tasks before diving into the world of online videos.
Instead of allowing your child to watch YouTube on a personal device, like a tablet or phone, consider using a shared device like Apple TV in the living room. This not only promotes better viewing habits but also encourages family interaction and discourages isolating behaviors. Plus, having a shared viewing space can make it easier for parents to monitor content and time spent watching YouTube.
By only allowing your preteen to watch YouTube later in the day, you can ensure that it doesn’t interfere with morning and afternoon activities. This schedule can help your child focus on schoolwork, extracurricular activities, or family time during the earlier hours, making their YouTube time a relaxing way to unwind after a productive day.
Heads up, parents: to encourage healthy sleep habits, make sure your child shuts off YouTube at least an hour before bed. Try these screen-free activities before bedtime instead.
A “digital detox” refers to taking a break from screens and social media. A week or two break from screens can help your preteen develop healthier habits and discover new hobbies or interests. During this time, encourage activities like reading, outdoor play, or family game nights to help your child find alternative ways to spend their free time.
Managing your child’s YouTube time doesn’t have to mean banning it entirely. It’s especially important to establish good digital habits now, before their viewing consumption increases as a teenager. By implementing creative strategies, you can ensure that your child enjoys the benefits of online video content, without compromising their overall well-being.
The BrightCanary Breakdown series distills research about kids, the internet, and social media into essential takeaways.
The American Psychological Association (APA) issued a new health advisory in April 2023 around adolescents and social media use, with 10 recommendations for parents.
“Using social media is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young people … [but] potential risks are likely to be greater in early adolescence — a period of greater biological, social, and psychological transitions, than in late adolescence and early adulthood.”
Here are their specific recommendations, based on the scientific evidence to date:
There are more and more studies released every month about the impact of social media on children and young adults, often leading to alarming headlines. But these reports can be confusing, and there are still challenges to overcome in the research: It’s difficult to prove causation because the data we need is often hard to get, buried within tech companies’ proprietary information.
We don’t yet have much information about how social media affects kids over many years and into adulthood. Additionally, there isn’t enough research on how social media affects kids from different backgrounds or racial or ethnic groups, or those with special needs or health conditions.
The APA is hoping to cut through the clutter and establish some best practices based on what we do know so far.
There are several actions you can take to help your kids establish and maintain healthy digital habits:
While it is true that much more research needs to be done around how social media impacts adolescents, the APA’s recommendations make sense given what we already know: kids need boundaries and limits on social media consumption, and parents have an important role to play in this.
You may have seen the deepfake videos showing popular celebrities doing and saying things they’ve never done. What is a deepfake? These are fake videos created using artificial intelligence. These videos can be harmless fun, but they can also spread misinformation or be used maliciously. With kids and teens spending hours watching videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, it’s essential to teach them about deepfakes and how to detect them.
Deepfakes are videos created using AI algorithms to make it appear as if someone is doing or saying something they didn’t. They can involve celebrities, politicians, or even regular people.
Kids might come across deepfakes involving their favorite YouTubers, TikTok stars, or animated characters. Most of the time they’re harmless and entertaining, but sometimes they’re created to spread misinformation or cause harm. It’s important for you and your kids to learn how to spot these types of videos, and understand what to do when you encounter them.
There are several telltale signs of a deepfake you can tell your kids to look out for:
There will be times, however, when it’s simply too challenging for kids to determine whether a video is a deepfake, especially as technology continues to improve. This deepfake of Morgan Freeman is a good example of where we’re headed:
In such situations, it’s essential for kids to trust their instincts.
If something feels off or too good to be true, it’s worth asking questions and investigating further. If the video involves someone they know in an embarrassing or compromising situation, they should give that person the benefit of the doubt and assume it’s a deepfake. Encourage them to ask you or another trusted adult for help if they’re unsure whether a video is real or fake.
It’s important to help kids understand why some people create videos that put people and characters in false or misleading situations:
When kids encounter deepfakes online, it’s essential to teach them how to respond appropriately:
Deepfakes can be created to shame or bully people, and it’s important for kids and teens to understand this dark side of the technology. By manipulating photos or videos, bad actors can make it look like someone is involved in embarrassing situations or activities they never took part in. These fake videos can seriously hurt a person’s reputation, cause emotional pain, and make it difficult for them to feel safe online.
It’s crucial for young people to learn about this issue, practice empathy, and treat others with respect, both online and offline, to help create a safer and more supportive digital environment for everyone.
As kids and teens share pictures and videos of themselves on social media, it’s crucial to explain that these images could potentially be used to create deepfake videos. While it’s unlikely for most people, it’s essential to be aware of the risk and take steps to protect their digital identities.
Be cautious with sharing: Encourage kids and teens to think twice before sharing photos or videos of themselves, especially in public forums. Remind them that once something is posted online, it can be challenging to control who sees it or how it’s used — and the greater the volume of images shared publicly, the more material the deepfake creator has to work with.
Adjust privacy settings: Teach them how to adjust privacy settings on their social media accounts to limit who can view their content. Encourage them to share only with friends and family, rather than publicly.
If your child discovers a deepfake video featuring their image, it’s essential to address the issue calmly and take the following steps:
When discussing deepfakes with older teens, it’s essential to address the issue of sexualized deepfakes. A study in 2019 found that 96% of deepfakes were pornographic, with nearly all of them targeting women. These deeply invasive and harmful deepfakes can have severe emotional and psychological consequences for victims.
If your teen or someone they know becomes a victim of a computer-generated pornography, offer guidance on how to respond:
As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children how to navigate the digital world safely. By explaining what deepfakes are, how to spot them, and how to respond, we can empower our kids to think critically, make informed decisions about the content they consume, and understand how to respond to online harassment if they are the victim of a deepfake. Encourage open communication with your children about their online experiences, and help them develop a critical eye toward the media they encounter.