Why Parents Cant Cut the Cord on Kids Digital Life

Remember when you had to call your friends on a telephone attached to the wall? You’d wait for your mom to get off the phone, then dial a number you’d memorized by heart by pressing actual buttons. 

Yeah, those days are long gone. 

House phones have been replaced by smartphones, tablets, and communication-capable smart watches. Kids now have dozens of ways to connect with each other digitally. According to a Pew Research study, 88% of 12 year olds now have cellphones, and about 75% have at least one active social media account. 

Back in the day, our access to telephone mischief was limited by how long the phone cord was. These days, thanks to cell phones, kids have practically unlimited access to anything they can find on the internet. 

Alas, you already know this. What you might not know is how few parents are actively paying attention to what their kids are doing with their devices. The same Pew study indicates less than half of parents of 12-year-olds look at their kids’ text messages, and only 28% have ever looked at their social media accounts. 

There’s a fine line between mindful monitoring and straight up snooping. I’m not advocating for socially spying on your kids, but I do encourage you to pay attention to what they’re doing on social media and via text message. Here’s why ...

Whereas you had to locate the stash of Playboy Magazines or dirty VHS movies to view super sexual content, these days a scroll through Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok is all it takes. And it’s not just what kids are seeing on social — it’s what they’re sharing. A brief scroll through my own 15-year-old son’s Instagram netted at least six posts that were borderline inappropriate and a few that were downright disturbing.

This information isn’t intended to shame anyone. It’s a reminder that even if you’re not watching what your kids are sharing and saying on social media, plenty of people are. 

Sexual curiosity is a normal, natural part of growing up. However, when this sort of thing happens in a space as publicly accessible as social media, it opens kids up to the sort of vulnerability that can lead to them becoming targets for everything from bullying to trafficking. 

By far, the best defense here is a strong offense. Make sure you have access to your kids’ social media accounts. Seeing what they see empowers you to take the lead on important conversations. Don’t be afraid to confront these topics — it’s YOUR JOB to have these uncomfortable discussions. 

Start here:

CommonSenseMedia.org/Social-media offers socially savvy tips, information, and conversation starters. 

Michelle Mulak owns Good Vibrations Creative + Consulting, a boutique marketing, public relations and communications consulting firm based in Cocoa Beach. She works with entrepreneurs, businesses, brands, events and organizations of all sizes to help them develop and implement authentic, effective content marketing, advertising and publicity strategies.

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