If your child has asked for a social media account, you’re not alone.
While social media apps are undeniably part of growing up today, allowing your kids access to them brings risks that many families would rather not take too early.
That’s why parents everywhere are trying to decide when the right time comes to hand over that kind of responsibility. But the answer isn’t simple.
A one-way door
Experts who study technology and kids’ mental health point out that once you let your child onto social media, there’s no going back. Exposure to negative interactions, such as bullying and predatory behavior, as well as addictive design features, can’t be undone. The genie won’t fit back into the bottle.
There’s still debate about the long-term effects, but signs of harm are real. Research links heavy social media use in young people to increased anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. That’s why many parents choose to wait until their children are older and better prepared.
Facing the social pressure
Holding that line isn’t easy. Coaches sometimes organize team chats on Snapchat or Instagram. Friends trade jokes in group threads your child can’t join. It can feel like you’re isolating them.
But the hard truth is that social media plays a huge role in kids’ lives today, whether they’re ready for it or not. A parent’s decision to wait may not make them popular in the moment, but it can keep their children safe in the long run.
Starting the conversation
Telling your child no is the easy part. Explaining why takes more thought. Here are some questions you can use to open up a conversation instead of shutting one down:
- What do you think are the most dangerous parts of social media?
- What would you do if someone online made you feel uncomfortable?
- Do you want social media because you really want it, or because your friends have it?
- If you could pick just one platform, which would it be, and why?
These aren’t trick questions. They’re a way to understand what’s driving your child’s curiosity, and to let them see you’re willing to listen.
Finding the middle ground
For families who want to give their kids some experience with social media without full exposure, compromises are possible. Some parents allow apps during limited windows of time each day, while others keep shared logins so they can check in without reading every message.
Where technology can help
Parents don’t have to manage this alone. Tools built into phones, routers, and service providers can help limit app usage, set daily time windows, and even pause internet access during homework or bedtime. Features like location sharing or activity alerts give parents peace of mind while kids learn healthy habits online.
Safeguard with the C Spire Connect & Protect Plan
Connect & Protect from C Spire features devices kids want with parental controls you need at every stage, including a standalone watch plan, kids phone plans with no data, and kids phone plans with unlimited data and built-in protections — as well as home WiFi with built-in parental controls that can protect kids on every device in your home.
And to get you started, all Connect & Protect plans come with free guided setup for parental controls, content filtering, access to our online parent resources hub, and GPS location tracking.
