Harassment and Bullying. This includes deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person. It also includes overt, intentional acts of aggression toward other children, as well as misuse of personal information. As reported by the EU Kids Online III, the most bothersome include 1) dealing with hacked accounts, 2) dealing with others’ fake accounts, 3) dealing with fake accounts impersonating them and sending rude messages on their behalf, and 4) dealing with rude messages from hacked accounts.

This theme is identified as the most common risk on social media. Cyberbullying shows consistent evidence of mental harm and even physical (e.g., suicide) across literature. Specifically, blog use increases the likelihood of becoming the target of harassment. So ask your children if they have experienced anything like this. Did they know this could happen? And if it did happen to them, how did it make them feel? How did they handle it? What can they do next time?

Sexual Exploitation. This includes sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images via cell phone, computer, or other digital devices. Frequent social media use and sexting is associated with increase in all types of sexual behavior. Sexting is specifically associated with more lifetime and recent sexual partners. And while not necessarily a bad thing for adults, this should raise a flag with children who are easily influenced and lack the executive functioning to consistently curtail impulsive behaviors.

When you talk to kids about this one, it’s important they understand that their content may be used in ways they do not expect. For example, make sure they know their friend may not, in fact, be a 14 year-old girl. In addition, many parents or guardians set up rules such as “I will buy you a phone as long as you either a) do not lock it, or b) give me the password.” You can then set up a standing date to check in on their texts, etc. so they don’t feel punished, for example, if you get mad and decide to check.

And whatever you do, make sure you do not belittle or judge them for their choices to-date. They need to feel like you are a safe person to come to in case of trouble.

Inappropriate Use. This category includes using the Internet in ways that may impact health. For example, children (and adults, for that matter) who spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, may exhibit classic symptoms of depression. They may also substitute internet-use in lieu of more healthy coping mechanisms. For example, children may watch YouTube videos to escape from negative feelings. While an occasional distraction is perfectly normal, it is important to intervene if this is consistent or appears to have a negative outcome.

Obviously, distraction can be an appropriate response to rumination or as a means to cope when we are overwrought. As such, I recommend keeping the conversation (and observation) going to help determine if this is the case. Also, again, the activity is typically more important than the amount of time. Just make sure other healthy activities are not being neglected (such as exercise.)

Undue Influence. This category includes behavior based on observations on social media, such as making purchases based on online marketing influence. Children can be influenced by online peer pressure. For example, there has been a rise of illicit online nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NUPM) specifically on social media outlets. Legislation does not specifically address NUPM promotion via social media, leaving youth unprotected online. As previously mentioned, children lack the executive functioning to consistently curtail impulsive behaviors which is what makes active participation and discussion so important.

Privacy Exposure. This category refers to the inability to control the information about oneself over the Internet. For example, Instagram use increases the likelihood of inadvertently exposing personally identifiable information. The involvement of minor users on these platforms raises significant legal challenges, as well. For instance, children may enter into a membership agreement, consent to share or be tagged in photographs, and agree to liability for certain actions without understanding the impact.