Social media has inspired me to become a better educator in so many ways. I love collaborating and connecting with other educators all around the globe. But it wasn’t until 2017 that I opened up a Facebook account to create a business page for For The Love of Teachers to share my website and passion for teaching. My personal page is really just there and is pretty stagnant. I may post a positive quote or empowering video but that’s about it. My only connections on social media are with teachers and a few lifelong friends that follow For The Love of Teachers of course ;). Anyway, a teacher that I do not know personally, but that I am connected with, private messaged me to say, “Hey Christine, your page is so positive. I love it!” ‘Wow,’ I thought. I don’t put any time into the content on my personal page but it was interesting that the little bit that I did post grabbed someone else’s attention. This got me thinking about what others see when it comes to social media profiles and posts. I personally don’t choose to use social media to tell my story. You want to know what’s going on in my life, call me. You want to know how my family is, come over for a visit. I still crave that social interaction between people…good conversations, seeing the face of a loved one, seeing someone’s smile, and hearing their voice and laugh. Call me old-fashioned!
But these days social media is the place to be. How many times have you caught yourself going to your phone to make a call and then getting caught up perusing through social media between the news, celebrity gossip, trolling through Facebook posts, IG photos, and random videos? It gets me every time.
All too often, I’ve learned more about friends and family that I’d like to know from their social media profiles and posts, from every picture, thought, and emotion. Social media is flooded with extremely personal information.
It was known that the Parkland shooter’s social media profile showed disturbing images of guns and knives. His friends predicted that he was capable of such an act of violence. So can we take a closer look at our students’ social media profiles and posts which could possibly give us an idea about what’s going on inside the minds and lives of students? I think we can.
In this digital day and age, our students use social media as a way of communicating daily on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms. If they are going to use social media let’s teach them how to use it responsibly, what’s appropriate to say, share and post and what’s not. Hold them accountable for their words and let them know that something will be said and done if they post something inappropriate or alarming. School safety is our main priority and won’t be ignored.
Creating a Social Media Profile
When opening up a social media account you are prompted to put in information about yourself. How much information you give is up to you. Teach students how to create a social media profile that is not only safe but appropriate. When it comes to putting personal information on social media, less is more. It may be a good idea for students to take a look at some sample profiles and evaluate them using some guidelines. Perhaps they could take a closer look at their peers’ profiles using guidelines and give them kind, specific and helpful feedback in making revisions to their social media profiles and then to their own. Use these profile guidelines, checklists, and profile templates.
Creating Social Media Posts
Posting on social media is fine when you use it responsibly. Talk with your students about what is okay and what is not okay to post when it comes to content and images. What kind of posts or images is alarming or may raise a red flag? Provide some sample posts for students to evaluate using the Post it or Trash It template. Have students reflect upon their own social media posts using the post guidelines. They can work in groups to create posts and then evaluate them together. Have students reflect upon what they do differently when posting on social media in the future keeping the guidelines in mind.
Tip: It’s important to provide appropriate samples of profiles and posts for your students in order for students to critique and evaluate them using the guidelines and checklists. I’ll leave the samples up to you as far as the content and for the grade level you teach. Most of the samples I create are made up based on fictional characters. The kids may even enjoy making up profiles and posts for each other to evaluate and revise. Have some fun with it! You could get the Social Media Profile & Post How To here. Bonus texting templates are now included!
As a teacher, parent or friend, it’s okay to say something when you see something “strange” that someone else posts. Ask them about it:
“Hey I saw what you posted, are you okay?”
“Sounds like you were pretty heated up about _____. Want to talk about it?”
I encourage students not to engage in the posts by reacting or commenting on the post, but rather act upon it by saying something and then doing something, like going directly to someone for help.
And furthermore, let’s not forget to teach children how to connect with people “live.” Teaching social skills is a life skill necessary to function in society. Talking and connecting with others face to face is still cool. Let’s teach them this and show them how.
How do you encourage and teach today’s kids to use social media responsibly?
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Christine Weis is a passionate educator, classroom management coach, wife, and mom of two busy boys. She enjoys teaching, writing, and creating resources for teachers.
I like your innovative thinking when it comes to teaching kids for a better future. In today’s digital world where social media is an indispensable part of our lives, it’s important to direct kids towards the right direction. It is our responsibility to teach them social media etiquettes. And at the same time help them understand the importance of being in touch with the real world. Staying in touch with people in person is equally important than on social media. Thanks for bringing our attention to this important aspect of education.
Thank you Shaily! You make really great points that I completely agree with. With the way kids are so engaged with social media in this day and age, it’s best that we teach them how to use the tools properly. Thank you so much for reading and leaving a thoughtful comment.
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Thank you for providing such valuable information and advice on this topic. The increasing role that social media plays in our lives makes teaching responsible use an absolute priority. Your Social Media Profile & Post How To product is a great way to start the ongoing conversation that is so necessary with our students about social media. Thank you.
Thank you Laura! I appreciate your thoughtful comment. What’s happening on social media inspired me to create the product. We as parents and teachers really need to teach kids how to use it responsibly and monitor it. Sometimes I cringe what I see what’s posted! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I can’t believe I never thought of showing kids examples. We talk a lot about appropriate tech use in my classroom, but I gear more towards when to use cell phones and what not. I allow kids to use them appropriately in class for lab activities or to take a picture of notes that they missed. They know to ask.
Showing examples to critique is the best way to get kids to evaluate the content of the post. My hope is that kids think twice (maybe even three times) before posting on social media and for us teachers to keep an eye on students who raise red flags. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is so important! It’s crazy how early some children are starting to use social media. They need to know what is okay to post and what isn’t. Thanks for the ideas on how to handle this!
Personally I think social media is a bit out of control depending on how you are using it. However, I don’t want to discourage children form using it but they NEED to be taught how to use it responsibly. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I think you’ve raised a valid point and given some very good suggestions. Social media has become a rage nowadays and it’s important to teach the kids all about using them.
– http://www.allshethings.com
Thank you!! If kids are going to use it then we might as well teach them how to use it responsibly. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is so important now that social media is so popular! I definitely think that parents and teachers should use this to help students.
Thank you! I hope it’s a useful resource to parents and teachers! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Great post! I think it is so important to know how to use all social media channels wisely. I love the checklist you came up with!
Thanks Marianna! I think checklists are good tools for kids (as well as adults). I think I may have a checklist for everything…lol. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
As a mother of 3, it is so important to think about this. The world has changed so much since I was a kid. Teaching our children responsibility at an early age is so important.
Yes! I completely agree! My son is only 7 and we have conversations about the things he may see or hear on SM. Teaching children at a young age is important! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is such great advice. It’s so important to teach kids how to safely use social media since there’s really no avoiding it.
Thank you and YES!!! We must teach our children how to use SM responsibly and safely! Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Great tips! I think that not only students need to learn to use social media responsibly, but also us as adults as well. I think strong emotions don’t always have to be negative. If I am happy and positive about something, I will post it. It is if the strong emotions are angry or sad that that would be a concern for me.
Thank you! Yes…I agree! Adults need to be the models for our children. It starts with them. Parents needs to monitor it more as well. I welcome strong emotions of happiness and positivity on SM. But if there is something negative, scary or alarming, something needs to be said. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
Great advice, i’ll definitely need this when my son gets of age. Of course by then we’ll probably have new problems in the world lol
Thank you! That is true…lol. My son is only 7 and I teach him what’s appropriate and what’s not appropriate on SM. Thanks for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These tips are so important for today’s world. Thank you!
Thanks for reading Kristin! 🙂
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
As much as I hate the thought of teachers have to teach ANOTHER thing that should be taught at home, I love that you have covered this. As parents and educators, adults need to be aware of what is going on in kids lives, and teach kids (all kids) that if they SEE something, they need to SAY something. Parents need to be involved and know what their kids are doing…
This type of post, with tips for parents is what I was thinking for a follow up to my Parenting post. Thank you!
I agree that parents more than anyone need to know what’s going on in their kids lives, what they are saying, posting and how they are communicating their feelings to others on social media. It’s really scary and concerning to be a parent today. But teaching them HOW to use social media responsibly while modeling it themselves is key. Thank you so much for reading and for sharing your post too. I’m glad that we could both be the voice to raise awareness on this topic.
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
These are really good points. In a social media age, it’s easy to overshare or overstep boundaries. Children definitely need guidance on this!
Thank you! Yes…guidance is key to teaching them how to use social media responsibly. It’s how we adults model and teach our children. Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
This is absolutely wonderful! I am the mother of three and am a freelance digital marketer where social Media is my livelihood so my teen children are well versed in the Ins and outs of each platform but I can’t tell you how utterly shocked I am at how many other parents I know that have restricted their tweens and teens from social media rather than teaching them how to use it wisely. Your message is so refreshing, thank you!!
Oh good, I’m glad to hear that! We don’t want to discourage children from using social media, just teach them how to use it responsibly. If parents are banning it, I wonder if it is because of the content and images their children are exposed to. Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I absolutely loved this blog post! Great writing, and great advice.
Thank you Stacy! Appreciate you reading this!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I never thought about teaching social media etiquette in school. But it totally makes sense. I can’t imagine growing up when you’re connected all the time. And lots of kids do struggle with the effects of social media, so this would be a good thing.
It’s hard to believe that we have to teach this to children, as well as to some adults. The whole idea is to use it responsibly and if you see something then say something.Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I do my best to explain the dangers to my eldest – she’s 5 – I do use social media but I’m relatively guarded.. Some of my younger cousins live their whole life online. It’s scary.
It can be scary! There’s nothing wrong with being a bit guarded, aware and teaching your children the dangers of SM. It’s all about being aware and using it responsibly.Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I try to keep my kids off social media. They may be sheltered but they need to understand that there are many ramifications from their actions
Keeping them off of social media or providing limitations is a good thing. If they are using social media, learning how to use it responsibly is key! Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
I so agree with all of your advice! I try to teach my 12 year old cousins all of this stuff. Its much different than when I was a kid.
Thank you! Today’s kids are entirely different than when we were kids. It’s important to teach them how to use social media responsibly, especially at 12 years old. Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers
oh my gosh I can’t even imagine – but you give such great advice – i’m going to share this with my sister who has a 5 & 7 year old but the time will be here quicker then I think!
Thank you! It’s important to teach students at a young age about using social media responsibly, especially when they see so many adults immersing themselves in it daily. Thank you so much for reading!
Christine at For The Love of Teachers