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Today’s teens have never known a world without social media. It is an established, and growing, part of everyday life, from the professional to the personal. While teens are pretty savvy about using social media, it can be a slippery slope if they aren’t educated on how to use it correctly and safely.
It is up to educators and parents to properly educate today’s teens about healthy, productive, and professional social media habits. If teens aren’t well-versed in the proper use of certain platforms, they could be victims of cyber bullying and identity theft, or even run into trouble later in life when looking for jobs.
Let’s take a closer look at how edtech can encourage healthy and professional social media use in teens, and how you can start educating the teens in your life to make sure they’re using social media the right way.
The need for tech-savvy teens
As of 2022, it is estimated that around 46% of adolescents uses some kind of social network almost constantly. Some of the most popular platforms for the age group include TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, but most teens have accounts on other platforms like Facebook.
Because today’s teens have grown up with social media and smartphones, they have an advantage when it comes to learning to grow and adapt to new platforms or changes to existing technology. They are also the first generation to fully experience the Benefits of regular use of social networks from childhoodincluded:
- Stay connected with friends and family
- Learn about current events.
- Access health information
- Share ideas and creative projects.
- Meet new people who have similar interests
However, because social media is “the norm” with so many teens, they may not be as aware of some of the common issues associated with the technology, including privacy and security issues, inappropriate content, and risks. for mental health.
This generation will lead the way when it comes to new technological innovations and big changes to social media platforms. There is a growing need for technologically savvy people in the workplace. So it’s just as important that teens understand that the digital footprints they leave today can be found years from now when they’re ready to start their careers.
Edtech is an important tool for K-12 students to teach them how to stay safe, informed, and on top of current technology trends. When teachers integrate new technology into their classrooms and parents encourage educational technology at home, these students are more likely to know how to use technology safely and effectively, rather than relying on the “learn as you go” technique. “that so many children and adolescents grow up with.
Whether you’re a parent or educator, you can help the teens in your life practice positive social media habits and avoid some of the pitfalls today and in the future by using technology as an educational tool.
How to educate adolescents using social networks
One of the best ways to teach teens how to use social media correctly is to incorporate it into their curriculum. If you’re a teacher, showing off your own social media skills can make it easier to keep your students’ attention, especially if you can show them something new.
For example, with more and more careers relying on social media, you can teach your students things like the best practices for content creationhow to develop a marketing strategy and how to work as a team to collect and share assets.
Most kids and teens follow at least one content creator on a social media platform. Giving them the opportunity to “be” one for a lesson will really resonate with them, and can sneak a lot of useful information along the way when it comes to things like how to collect data, how to collaborate, and the importance of creating relevant content.
Platforms like Adobe Spark, Canva, and Storybird are extremely useful for anyone diving into the world of content creation, and are perfect apps for students.
These lessons can carry over to other subjects and projects, and this is just one example of how you can incorporate social media into your school day. Don’t be afraid to be creative and inspire your students using platforms and strategies they are already familiar with.
Teaching teens to stay safe
Teaching teens how to use social media effectively now and for their future endeavors is a great start. The most important thing you can teach them, though, is how to stay safe on all platforms. Some safety tips include:
- Do not give information to strangers
- Understand how to set privacy settings
- Create strong passwords
- Be aware of fake news
- Use of secure sites
There are some edtech tools that can make these tips easier to implement. One of the best is Securly, a student security software that offers cloud-based web filtering. This allows students to stay away from harmful web content. It also monitors the sites visited, as well as keystrokes, so both parents and teachers can be notified of things like cyberbullying or inappropriate content.
As your teen nears graduation, you can also educate them on social media best practices to take with them to college. He transition to college it can be quite stressful for both you and your teen. Knowing that they understand how to stay safe online can give you peace of mind and can make it easier for you to safely find new friends on campus.
You can also encourage the use of edtech resources such as Head space to promote mindfulness and meditation. Guided meditation can help combat stress and help students stay in the present, rather than feeling anxious about the future. They can even use social media platforms before school to interact with new roommates and check out campus activities that interest them.
Although today’s teens know a lot about the atmosphere of social media and how to use multiple platforms, they can always benefit from edtech. Feel free to use what you know to educate the teens in your life about the safety and longevity of a fingerprint.
