As election season approaches, it's more important than ever to guide our youth on how to navigate social media responsibly. With opinions flying across all platforms, it's crucial to teach children how to express their views respectfully and understand the impact their words can have online.
An opinion is a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. Having an opinion is healthy and normal, and everyone should be able to express theirs in a respectful manner. “Opinions can guide actions and contribute to meaningful conversations,” says Dr. Steve Arcidiacono, Boys Town Staff Psychologist. “However, during an election year, these discussions can become particularly charged and sensitive, especially in today’s landscape of social media.” Here are five tips for teaching your youth to exchange opinions respectfully online:
1. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's important for children to know when and where to share their views and to understand that others may disagree or even criticize their opinions. Emphasize the importance of respecting different opinions and viewpoints, fostering a culture of understanding and empathy.
2. Social media complicates this dynamic. Unlike face-to-face interactions, social media platforms expose children to a wider audience, including complete strangers. A message posted to friends may be shared or reposted beyond the intended audience and is susceptible to misinterpretation and criticism.
3. Opinions can evolve over time, but posts stay forever. Views may change as people gather information from family, friends, school, web searches, and other life experiences. A social media post from a student's sophomore year might not reflect their opinions in their senior year. Despite this, old posts remain online, potentially affecting future opportunities such as scholarships, college applications, social connections, and employment. Before posting, we should ask, “Am I OK with everyone associating this with me in the future?”
4. Develop the skill of healthy debate in safe spaces. It can be valuable for children to express themselves without fear of consequence with their families and develop their own perspectives. At home, families could engage in mock debates from different political perspectives as a way of practicing empathy and open-mindedness. Here you might give feedback on what would be appropriate to share in an online setting. Classrooms also provide a more structured opportunity to express their opinions among peers.
5. Model and teach calm, respectful discourse. While we are encouraging children to share and respect opinions, they may also encounter hateful, disrespectful, and misleading messages. Children will need to discern between fact and opinion and recognize when they need to step away from an interaction. When emotions are raised, there is a higher likelihood of making a statement that cannot be taken back.
“As we head into the election season, let’s equip our youth with the tools to share their opinions thoughtfully, responsibly, and respectfully on social media,” said Dr. Arcidiacono. “Encourage open dialogue within safe environments, remind them of the lasting impact their digital footprint, and be a good role model by respecting different opinions and viewpoints yourself.” By modeling respectful behavior and showing how to engage in civil discourse, you can help your children develop the skills they need to navigate complex social interactions both online and offline. Your support is necessary in helping our youth navigate social media responsibly during this election year.