The emergence of social media offers teens opportunities for new ways of interacting, playing, working, learning, etc., in which they can communicate with others in a fast-paced network and share information instantaneously. Given the widespread use of social media among teens, it is not surprising that these sites play an important role in establishing relationships with friends and in everyday social interactions. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the role of social media in teens’ friendships.
The PRIME rules help teens navigate online friendships safely
Often, teens seek virtual social relationships to fill in the blanks in their lives and hearts; while some teens may find it easier to meet new friends online because they feel more comfortable where it takes less anxiety about appearance stems from low self-esteem. To prevent teens from getting addicted to online relationships, parents may help them develop healthy online behaviour, such as guiding teens to select appropriate online content, as well as raising their awareness of online safety. For example, parents may establish Internet rules for the family that may include a limited amount of time online each day, maintaining a balance of online and offline social activities, and promoting self-management skills (e.g. self-care, discipline and time management), etc.
Moreover, it is recommended for parents to educate and discuss online relationships with the teen using the PRIME rules. PRIME rule is classified into person, readiness, intention, mode, and emotion.
Person: People often choose to be in relationships with others who share similar characteristics or interests. Online groups can be a good option for teens to meet new online friends, as usually these groups are monitored by the administrators who help to filter out inappropriate content.
Readiness: Educate your teen on the risks of online relationships, such as people putting up fake profiles, sending negative comments, and other potential dangers in the online world.
Intention: Guide your teen to develop a clear and right mindset when it comes to relationships. This will help them find the purpose of each relationship and make better decisions. For example, many teens engage in online relationships to avoid feeling lonely and isolated. Hence, they need to understand the purpose of making new online friends in order to create healthy and sustainable relationships.
Mode: It’s much safer to let your teen make online friends at home than other places like cybercafes as they won't be negatively impacted by cyber friends and family members may have a better chance of getting to know their online friends by proactively talking to the teen.
Emotion: The love and understanding of parents help teens feel loved and supported. If they encountered unfavourable experiences or relationships, they could go to their parents for emotional support. In conclusion, we could not avoid online friends. Instead, parents should maintain open communication with teens to discuss and share opinions about online relationships. It can be easier for parents to guide and understand cyber safety issues. For teens who are addicted to online relationships, parents may observe their child’s cognitive, physical, social and value system development because triggering factor(s) might be from these aspects, such as learning difficulty might contribute to academic stress. Teen(s) might cope with stress by engaging in online activities, such as gaming, friendship, etc.
Note: The above content is adopted from #728 Feminine. For further information and assistance, please contact us. Thank you.
The PRIME rules help teens navigate online friendships safely
Often, teens seek virtual social relationships to fill in the blanks in their lives and hearts; while some teens may find it easier to meet new friends online because they feel more comfortable where it takes less anxiety about appearance stems from low self-esteem. To prevent teens from getting addicted to online relationships, parents may help them develop healthy online behaviour, such as guiding teens to select appropriate online content, as well as raising their awareness of online safety. For example, parents may establish Internet rules for the family that may include a limited amount of time online each day, maintaining a balance of online and offline social activities, and promoting self-management skills (e.g. self-care, discipline and time management), etc.
Moreover, it is recommended for parents to educate and discuss online relationships with the teen using the PRIME rules. PRIME rule is classified into person, readiness, intention, mode, and emotion.
Person: People often choose to be in relationships with others who share similar characteristics or interests. Online groups can be a good option for teens to meet new online friends, as usually these groups are monitored by the administrators who help to filter out inappropriate content.
Readiness: Educate your teen on the risks of online relationships, such as people putting up fake profiles, sending negative comments, and other potential dangers in the online world.
Intention: Guide your teen to develop a clear and right mindset when it comes to relationships. This will help them find the purpose of each relationship and make better decisions. For example, many teens engage in online relationships to avoid feeling lonely and isolated. Hence, they need to understand the purpose of making new online friends in order to create healthy and sustainable relationships.
Mode: It’s much safer to let your teen make online friends at home than other places like cybercafes as they won't be negatively impacted by cyber friends and family members may have a better chance of getting to know their online friends by proactively talking to the teen.
Emotion: The love and understanding of parents help teens feel loved and supported. If they encountered unfavourable experiences or relationships, they could go to their parents for emotional support. In conclusion, we could not avoid online friends. Instead, parents should maintain open communication with teens to discuss and share opinions about online relationships. It can be easier for parents to guide and understand cyber safety issues. For teens who are addicted to online relationships, parents may observe their child’s cognitive, physical, social and value system development because triggering factor(s) might be from these aspects, such as learning difficulty might contribute to academic stress. Teen(s) might cope with stress by engaging in online activities, such as gaming, friendship, etc.
Note: The above content is adopted from #728 Feminine. For further information and assistance, please contact us. Thank you.
