Do parents need to keep up with every app, slang term, social media platform, and online trend to keep their teens safe online?

No. And trying to keep up with everything may be distracting you from something much more important: understanding your teen.

In this episode of Secret Lives of Teens Online, I’m talking about why parents don’t need to become experts on every new app or game their teen uses. Instead, I want you to understand how your teen actually experiences the internet, why they love being online, who they spend time with, what those relationships mean to them, and whether they feel safe talking to you about what happens there.

Because your teen’s online life is part of their real life.

Their online friendships are real relationships. Their feelings are real. The support, belonging, love, fun, rejection, fear, and excitement they experience online can affect them offline too.

And if we want teens to understand that online dangers are real, we also have to acknowledge that the things they love about being online are real.

I also talk about why teens communicate with people while gaming, why simply telling teens not to make friends online can fall short, and how dismissing their online world can make it harder to have meaningful conversations about safe and unsafe relationships, online grooming, sextortion, and predators.

You don’t have to love every platform your teen uses. You don’t have to understand every trend. And you definitely don’t have to learn every new piece of teen slang.

But if you want to protect your teen online, get curious about their world before trying to control it.

Want to share your story? If you want to share your experience growing up online (the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful), you can email me at: slotopodcast@gmail.com. You can share your story anonymously in writing or ask about participating in a video interview.

Want to connect? Follow me on Instagram: @CyberFareedah and send me a message with your thoughts on the podcast! You can also connect with me on LinkedIn or wherever else you spend your time online! I’m CyberFareedah everywhere ♥

Want to work with me? If you’re interested in a workshop, speaking engagement, partnership, or other project, email me at support@sekuva.com or submit a booking request here: https://www.cyberfareedah.com/projects