𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀, 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘀… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

𝙃𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡

Teenagers are navigating a social media minefield where one impulsive moment can echo far beyond a 10-second clip.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲.

How do I know this? Because every crisis I’ve managed involving a kid under the age of 18 started with social media. Every single one.

What began as a split-second bid for laughs or attention spiraled into cyberbullying, social rejection, suspensions, and has even derailed college admissions.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲:

• 46% of U.S. teens have experienced at least one form of cyberbullying (Pew Research).
• 1 in 6 students are bullied online every year (CDC).
• Victims of cyberbullying are twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts (Journal of Adolescent Health).
• 77% of high school students use social media multiple times a day, raising their risk for bullying, depression, and anxiety (CDC).
• YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok are the most common platforms where bullying occurs, with rates as high as 79% on YouTube (security.org).

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿.

As parents, we can't unplug the internet. But we can become our kids' digital navigators, helping them understand the real-world consequences of every post, comment, and share.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Help your teen:
√ Recognize the difference between momentary attention and genuine connection
√ See their online presence as a reflection of their character
√ Choose substance over viral sensationalism

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to start these conversations. Talk to your kid and set clear, values-based boundaries that model thoughtful online behavior. The risks are too great to be ignored.

#CrisisComms #CrisisCommunications #TeenSocialMedia #DigitalWellness