‘Parents buy children phones but school policies set expectations around usage. We need to work together.’ (Headteacher)
There is little doubt about it. The online world has an influence on children’s behaviour, self-esteem and wellbeing levels. An appetite for social media can lead to less sleep, which can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and low mood.
Social media can also affect learning. This is why it is critical to share some evidence-based tips with your parents.
•Look at your school mobile phone policy. What does it actually say? Is it based on the available evidence?
•Don’t send mixed messages. Some schools seem anti-phones but then insist that students have a phone for the journey to and from school.
•WhatsApp can be wonderful for connecting with one another. However, in schools, it can become a platform for gossip, cyber-bullying or the circulation of inappropriate messages. It is designed for people over the age of 16, so why not set the tone with parents in this regard? Many think of it as a simple, innocuous app, but it is how it is being used that matters.
•Also point out to parents that if they allow their children to access social media before the stated age, the app then thinks the children have turned 18 long before they have!
Social media is one area where we really need to seek alignment as far as possible between parents and schools. Transition is the perfect point in the school journey to ensure parents understand the benefits and risks of social media, the rationale behind age restrictions and the concept of ‘digital hygiene’.
Teaching Tip
Ensuring that children understand how to navigate the digital world safely needs all hands on deck, and schools can play an important role in shaping the discussion.
Taking it further
This is another area where it’s very important for the school to share current research findings with parents. Don’t be swayed by newspaper reports or Twitter discussions; go to the research! You could start with this open-access article: Lepkowska, D. (2019), ‘To ban or not to ban? Mobile phone use in schools’, British Journal of School Nursing, 14, (10), 510–11.
