How to Set Social Media Rules for Your Kids
If you wouldn’t say it to Grandma, don’t say it online.
Social media can be dangerous. There are tons of crazy people and predators online (not to mention the school bully). Educate your kids on the dangers, establish firm rules, and keep an open dialogue to keep them safe online.
Don’t forget to mirror positive behavior, too. “Rules for thee and not for me” as a policy never works!
Humans don’t have fully developed brains until the age of 26. Don’t expect kids to make the best decisions all the time. They depend on you, the adult with the fully developed frontal cortex to keep them safe by making and enforcing good decisions.
See also:
Talking Points Communicating Social Media Rules
Using Devices Thoughtfully
Keep Screens Where We Can Share the Space: Let’s stick to using devices in common areas like the kitchen and living room. Bedrooms are for rest and relaxation.
Tech-Free Times: Dinner, bedtime routines, and family activities are moments to be fully present. Let's enjoy those without screens.
Finish First, Play Later: Once homework and chores are done, you can dive into your favorite apps or games.
A Break Before Bed: No devices for at least an hour before bedtime to help us all wind down better.
Keeping Ourselves and Others Safe
Share Wisely: Avoid posting personal details like your address, school name, or location. Let's also steer clear of messaging with people we don’t know in real life.
Pause Before Posting: Use the "WWGS" rule—What Would Grandma Say?—before posting anything. If it feels off, skip it.
Special Photos, Thoughtful Shares: Let’s keep photo-sharing to a few meaningful moments each year. Never post embarrassing or private photos. The internet is forever.
Ask First: If you want to share photos of friends or family, always ask them if it’s okay. We do the same for you!
Passwords Stay in the Family: Keep passwords private but share them with us for safety. If anything feels off online, come to us, no judgment.
Let’s Keep Accounts Private: We’ll stick with private accounts and make sure we only connect with people we trust.
Family First: If a friend wants to borrow your device, check with us. We’ll also make sure your apps and games are appropriate for you.
We’ll Review Together: Every now and then, we’ll look over privacy settings, apps, and messages to make sure everything still feels right.
Let’s Talk About It: If anything online makes you feel confused or uncomfortable, come to us. We’ll figure it out together.
We’re a Team
We’re in This Together: These rules apply to everyone, including us parents. We’ll also model healthy habits by turning off our phones during family time.
We’ll Use Tools to Help Us: Family-sharing features and parental controls are here to support us, but they don’t replace conversations and trust.
Clear and Kind Expectations: If anyone (yes, even us!) slips up on these rules, we’ll talk it through and figure out a way forward.
We love you and want you to enjoy everything tech has to offer while making smart, kind, and thoughtful choices. We’re always here to help if you feel stuck or unsure about anything. These rules might change over time—just like you do—but we’ll make those decisions together.
Recommended Screen Time Guidelines By Age Group
Sources:
Screen Time and Children: How to Guide Your Child - Mayo Clinic
Media Use Guidelines: Babies & Toddlers (for Parents) - Kids Health