How young is too young?

How young is too young to be active on social media?

Are we educating our kids to be wary and savvy by exposing them to it, or are we setting them back in ways that will be measured in years to come?

Our job as parents is to protect our kids from unnecessary over exposure, and to educate them on the correct usage of these forums.

We cannot deny how powerful social media is, and we need to get better at drawing the line.

I did my own research and asked people (with and without kids) what age they think is appropriate for kids to have access to social media. All said between 15 and 18 years old.

Peer pressure is another dynamic which needs to be factored in. There is no doubt it’s an important part of growing up to feel part of the group. If most of your friends are on social media, and your parents won’t allow you to be, are we fostering resentment and retaliation or are we protecting them for their own good?

I don’t have the answers.

I do know, as a parent, the best way we can educate and protect our kids is by listening, understanding and guiding them through what is now a common part of life. Knowledge is power, and if we can be fully armed with what is going on in cyber space, then we have a much better chance of setting the right example.