Safeguarding Mental Health

These resources are here to assist you in completing your Action Plan for Step 3 - Safeguarding Mental Health. If you want additional information on this topic, please let us know in the Digital Parenting Community.

On this page, we will be addressing the following items:

• Reviewing the downloadable resources that accompany this step
• Reviewing recommendations for the major social media platforms

Downloadable Resources

The PDF files for the Family Screen Time Plan and the Bible Study on Time can be found below.

Social Media Platforms

Below, we list some of the most popular social media platforms. For each platform listed below, you can find an overview, a list of the high-level dangers, links for how to set up parental controls, and a link for how to delete an account on the platform. Let us know in the Digital Parenting Community if you want additional platforms covered.

Discord

Discord's primary use is as a voice and video chat service for gamers, but each Discord “server” is a social community where users can interact.

Recommended Age: 14+

Dangers

You need to understand the following dangers before allowing your child to have an account on Discord:

• Provides some controls for content, but it does not provide "parental controls." Kids can change the content controls.
• Can enable a direct communication channel to your child without the ability to monitor it (this can be partially disabled).
• Can enable predators to connect with your child directly (this can be partially disabled).

Honest Take

If your child uses this app for voice chat while gaming, they must understand the risks. It would be best to put rules in place so they know they cannot interact with people they do not know in real life. Your kids need to know “warning signs” with content where they should contact you immediately. While the risks here are less than some other platforms, without the proper settings enabled, most anyone in the “server” (community) can message your child directly.

Setting up Parental Controls

For instructions on setting up the native parental controls in the app, please review the following link:

Setting up Parental Controls

Deleting a Discord Account

To delete or deactivate a Discord account, please review the following link:

Deleting an Account

Facebook

While Facebook has decreased in popularity among young people, it is still the most used social media platform globally. It shares many characteristics and risks with other social media platforms.

Recommended Age: 15+

Dangers

We recommend you understand the following dangers before allowing your child to have an account on Facebook:

• Emphasizes “likes” for the posted content
• Enables a direct communication channel to your child without the ability to monitor it
• Enables comments on posts
• Can enable predators to connect with your child directly

Honest Take

A Facebook account isn't as attractive for today's pre-teens and teens. Your child may not ask to create an account there. Even though it isn't as popular as other platforms for young people, there are still risks. Your child can still focus too much on likes, and direct communication via Facebook Messenger can lead to unmonitored communication with your child. Your child should know when to alert you if things get uncomfortable.

Setting up Parental Controls

For instructions on setting up the native parental controls in the app, please review the following link:

Setting up Parental Controls

Deleting a Facebook Account

To delete or deactivate a Facebook account, please review the following link:

Deleting an Account

Instagram

Instagram is a social media app that focuses on sharing images and videos. By default, accounts are open for anyone to see. The app also provides short and long-lived direct messaging.

Recommended Age: 16+

Dangers

We recommend you understand the following dangers before allowing your child to have an account on Instagram:

• Emphasizes “likes” for the posted content
• Enables a direct communication channel to your child without the ability to monitor it
• Encourages risky behavior (such as sexting and illegal activity) with short-lived messages
• Provides limited parental controls (only enables you to limit time and view followers as well as accounts they are following)
• Enables comments on posts
• Discourages a healthy body image through manipulated content
• Can enable predators to connect with your child directly

Honest Take

Instagram is particularly dangerous for pre-teen and teen girls. Even some of the wisest teens I've spoken with have struggled with the mental health effects of Instagram. The best solution is not to introduce this app until your teen has additional maturity and life experience.

Setting up Parental Controls

For instructions on setting up the native parental controls in the app, please review the following link:

Setting up Parental Controls

Deleting an Instagram Account

To delete or deactivate an Instagram account, please review the following link:

Deleting An Account

Snapchat

Snapchat is a messaging and social media app that enables direct messaging between users and groups. It is common for users to send snaps, which are short-lived photos and videos. For many teens, this is the primary direct communication channel.

Recommended Age: 16+

Dangers

We recommend you understand the following dangers before allowing your child to have an account on Snapchat:

• Encourages overuse through features like “streaks”
• Enables a direct communication channel to your child without the ability to monitor it
• Encourages risky behavior (such as sexting and illegal activity) with short-lived messages while not preventing screen capturing of content
• Provides limited parental controls (only enables you to report contacts you don't want in your kids' contacts)

Honest Take

In my experience, the most significant risk with Snapchat is the belief that teens can post anything without real-world consequences. This incorrect belief does not lead to good decision-making; it can enable a pattern of secret sin. Like other social media platforms, there is a real risk of overuse tied to some features (such as “streaks”).

Setting up Parental Controls

For instructions on setting up the native parental controls in the app, please review the following link:

Setting up Parental Controls

Deleting a Snapchat Account

To delete or deactivate a Snapchat account, please review the following link:

Deleting an Account

TikTok

TikTok is a social media app that focuses on short-form user-generated video content. TikTok uses an algorithm to determine the types of content you like. There are multiple security concerns with TikTok and what it does with its data.

Recommended Age: 16+

Dangers

We recommend you understand the following dangers before allowing your child to have an account on TikTok:

• Enables a direct communication channel to your child without the ability to monitor it
• Leverages a very effective algorithm for content selection, which can lead to overuse
• Tracks a massive amount of personal data and behavioral data from its users

Honest Take

For most users, the most significant risk of using TikTok is just wasting an ever-increasing amount of time. As several TikTok stars become real-world famous, it can provide a false justification for spending even more time on the platform. If your child uses this platform, you will need to be diligent about time limits.

Setting up Parental Controls

For instructions on setting up the native parental controls in the app, please review the following link:

Setting up Parental Controls

Deleting a TikTok Account

To delete or deactivate a TikTok account, please review the following link:

Deleting an Account