Assistant Principal -
Wellbeing

Mrs Mellissa Bell

Navigating Social Media: A Guide for Parents in the Digital Age

In today's interconnected world, social media has become an integral part of our lives. It offers numerous benefits, including instant communication, access to information, and opportunities for self-expression. However, as parents, it is essential to understand the potential risks and responsibilities associated with social media use, especially when it comes to our children. What steps can you as parents take to provide a space where your child can share with you their experiences online?

Start the Conversation: Open and honest communication with your children is crucial. Initiate discussions about social media early on, emphasising the importance of responsible online behaviour, privacy, and digital citizenship. Encourage them to come to you with any questions or concerns they may have.
Educate Yourself: Familiarise yourself with the different social media platforms your children are using. Stay updated on the latest trends, features, and potential risks associated with each platform. This knowledge will enable you to guide your children effectively and establish appropriate boundaries.
Set Age-Appropriate Boundaries: Many social media platforms have age restrictions for a reason. Ensure that your children are using platforms suitable for their age group. Help them understand why these guidelines exist and the potential dangers of engaging with platforms that are not age-appropriate.
Privacy and Security: Teach your children the importance of safeguarding their personal information online. Encourage them to use strong and unique passwords, enable privacy settings, and avoid sharing sensitive information or engaging in risky behaviours such as meeting strangers they've only interacted with online.
Digital Footprint: Help your children understand that everything they share on social media leaves a digital footprint. Encourage them to think before they post, considering the potential impact their content might have on their future opportunities, relationships, and reputation.
Encourage Critical Thinking: Social media can be a breeding ground for misinformation and cyberbullying. Teach your children to question what they see online, fact-check information, and treat others with kindness and respect. Encourage them to report any instances of cyberbullying to you or a trusted adult.
Balanced Screen Time: Set clear guidelines regarding screen time and encourage your children to engage in a variety of offline activities. Promote a healthy balance between online and offline interactions, ensuring that social media does not consume their entire lives.
Be a Positive Role Model: Children learn by observing their parents' behaviour. Set a positive example by using social media responsibly, treating others with respect, and maintaining healthy boundaries. Show them the importance of disconnecting from screens and engaging in meaningful face-to-face interactions.
Know how to report bullying and inappropriate behaviours: Know that you and your child have the right to report interactions that are illegal to the e-Safety Commissioner and the social media platform. And know what resources are available to support your child to be safe. (E-Safety Commissioner)

Remember, social media can be a powerful tool when used responsibly and in moderation. By staying informed, engaging in open conversations, and setting appropriate boundaries, we can help our children develop into responsible digital citizens. Let's work together to ensure their online experiences are positive, safe, and meaningful.

I raise this issue as we are aware of several concerning trends that are in our community. Sextortation is a real issue for our young people. This starts as a request for nude photos and then escalates to threats to share them with all your contacts unless there is a payment made. But we are also aware of many TikTok trends based on ‘testing the strength of friendships’ tests. Such tests include sending messages of wanting to self harm to AI created videos of a face that has been injured in an act of violence. All of these are highly concerning. Last week Mr Chapman met with our year 9 and 10 boys to talk about sextortion. And in the coming weeks we will be using PAC time to explore some of these concerns with our stage 4 students.

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of accompanying our School Captains (Lily, Caleb, Paige and Ben) to the Armidale Regional Council’s Citizenship Ceremony and a Keys to the City Ceremony. We welcomed and celebrated 23 people becoming Australian citizens. It was a truly special occasion, witnessing them pledge their support to our Australian government and way of life. Our Captains were then asked to play the role of Master of Ceremonies for the Keys to the City being awarded to Mr Anthony (Tony) Deakin. Not only did our students perform this role with honour, but they all came away with such a deep sense of appreciation

for the work of Mr Deakin. He is a true inspiration, having dedicated so much of his personal time to ensuring the fabric of this most beautiful city keeps its heritage look. Mr Deakin was a man willing to give his time and skills to his local community without hesitation or the need for thanks. We all walked away from this event in awe of this most humble man.

This coming Monday we look forward to having our Year 10 students and their parents/Carers to our information night for 2024 Preliminary Courses. It is a really exciting time for students, being able to take some agency over their next stage of education and learning.

Best regards,

Mellissa Bell