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Digital Wellness
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Prioritize Well-Being
Guiding West Chester teens through navigating social media is vital for their well-being. Equipping them with digital literacy skills and promoting healthy online habits fosters positive self-esteem and protects against the potential pitfalls of excessive screen time.
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of teens in the U.S. use social media like Youtube and TikTok
of teens say that they have been cyberbullied at some point
of adolescents believe that social media has a mostly negative effect
Sources: Pew Research Center, Cyberbullying Research Center, Yale Medicine
Strategies For Parents
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Model Healthy Digital Habits: Practice mindful screen use yourself, such as avoiding excessive phone use during family time.
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Set Screen Time Guidelines: Establish screen time limits based on age and activity (e.g., educational vs. entertainment) and use tools like parental controls and screen-time apps to monitor usage.
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Encourage Offline Activities: Promote hobbies that don’t involve screens, such as outdoor play, reading, and family activities. Create tech-free zones or times (e.g., during meals and before bedtime).
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Teach Online Safety and Privacy: Discuss the importance of protecting personal information and not sharing passwords. Teach them to recognize and avoid scams, phishing attempts, and cyberbullying.
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Foster Critical Thinking About Digital Content: Encourage them to question and analyze what they see on social media.
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Communicate Openly About Digital Experiences: Maintain an open dialogue about their online activities, friends, and challenges. Encourage them to come to you with concerns about cyberbullying or uncomfortable online interactions.
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Use Technology Together: Watch shows, play games, or explore educational websites together to guide healthy engagement.