When it comes to our children’s digital lives, prohibition rarely works. It’s our responsibility to help them build a healthy relationship with tech.
17 Feb 2026
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4 min. read
Hey there! The lives our children lead today are very different to our own, 20, 30 or even 40-plus years ago. And the main reason for that difference is technology. For good and bad, the advent of smartphones and social media has fundamentally changed the way our kids interact with each other and the world around them. There’s no putting the genie back in the bottle. So the question for parents is, how do we manage the potential risks while enabling our children to lead happy digital lives?
Let’s talk about the pros and cons of social media. Although some would have you believe otherwise, social media is not inherently evil. In some ways, it can even benefit youngsters, providing a safe space for self-expression, and/or a community of likeminded people to share stories and friendship. Some kids may even reach out to find help and support from official sources via their social media accounts, when they’re too scared to ask their parents.
However, context is everything. One important clarification is whether your children use social media mainly as a comms channel, to comment on photos and videos, or to repost content. Or whether they frequently post videos and selfies of themselves. Unless their profile is locked down and frequently vetted, the latter could present some issues.
Let’s delve into how selfies can invite risk. As soon as a selfie is posted onto a social media site, your child loses a certain amount of control over it. Even if they delete it, your child may find that the image has been reposted and shared by their friends and followers.
There’s also a growing body of evidence to suggest that social media use, including the posting of selfies, could result in psychological harm. A 2017 study of eighth to 12th graders found a 33% increase in depressive symptoms between 2010-2015. The suicide rate for girls in this age group increased by 65% over the same period.
As parents, we have a unique and important role to play in setting boundaries, teaching best practice and providing emotional and psychological support for our kids. This is true of many aspects of life, but especially the digital world.
Ultimately, it’s not about banning your child from posting selfies. It’s about giving them the information to make rational, risk-based decisions about what to post online. That includes warning them about predators, bullies and fraudsters. But also the potential mental health implications of excessive social media use.
So, let’s work together to build a better relationship with technology and ensure our children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Remember, communication and education are key!
