It can be challenging for parents to keep up with what their children are doing online. However, there are ways that parents can help prepare their children for what will come across their social media feeds.
Megan Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH, professor, division chief (academic), vice chair of academic affairs, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, is an expert in social media and health. She shared that while it can be challenging for parents to block all potential dangers online, the best way to combat these worries is through an open line of communication between parents and their children.
Moreno compared this experience with how parents prepare their children for driving.
“When kids turn 16, we don’t hand them car keys. We put them through lots of drivers ed, we have our kids watch us drive, we have them drive and we’re sitting next to them,” Moreno explained.
Moreno implies that a similar approach between parents and their children could be applied when navigating social media use.
“Phone Safety” aired on WMTV 15 News on October 3, 2025. The topic was also aired on WZAW and WSAW.