#safesocial | POF172

Should we be thinking about social media as risky behavior, equal to drinking alcohol, doing drugs, unprotected sex and operating heavy machinery? Sciencedirect.com defines risky behavior as: “Risk taking is any consciously, or non-consciously controlled behavior with a perceived uncertainty about its outcome, and/or about its possible benefits or costs for the physical, economic or psycho-social well-being of oneself or others.” In other words, it’s behavior that can cause harm to yourself and others. My guest Bailey Parnell is an expert in keeping our kids and us safe on social media and brings a wealth of research and information to the topic.Our kids are especially vulnerable on social media for many reasons. So where do we start? First, we need to take a look at ourselves and how we consume social media. Do we use it to numb ourselves, to compare, or is it a fun pastime? Our kids are watching us so let's make sure we take a moment to notice how, when and where we interact with it, and lead by example.It’s important that from the moment our kids have access to a device, we start talking about the risks to their safety and others. As our kids get older and want to be connected on social platforms, it’s important to have boundaries and talk to them about what drives social media and how powerful and damaging social currency can be. Bailey says the research shows that how we respond to what we see on social media is dependent on how good we are already feeling about ourselves. So if we are feeling low, it can make you feel lower and if you feel good, you aren’t as affected. This means we need to invest in our kids' sense of self (and our own) outside of the online world. In this episode, Bailey and I talk about: How teens are wired for comparison and risk-taking behavior How girls are more frequently targeted for harassment How to talk to your kids using a harm reduction approach App suggestions for parents to help you navigate the social media world. Bailey has generously given three helpful resources to the Parent Toolbox:1. Having "The Talk" With Your Kids... About Social Media (12 Examples and strategies) 2. 12 Strategies to Improve Social Media Use 3. Social Media Addiction Assessment Download these resources from the Parent Toolbox. www.parent-toolbox.comAbout Bailey ParnellBailey Parnell is the Founder & CEO of SkillsCamp, a soft skills training company, and was named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Bailey is a TEDx speaker with over 3 million views, an award-winning digital marketer, and a businesswoman with a talent for helping people develop the skills they need for success. Her work and expertise have been featured in Forbes, CBC, FOX, Flare Magazine, and more. Bailey did her Masters in Communications and Culture at Ryerson University with research looking into social media's impact on mental health, the results of which she presented at the World Youth Forum in Egypt and turned into her signature 5 Steps Towards #SafeSocial.Social Media:Website: https://www.baileyparnell.com/ https://skillscamp.co/ https://safesocialmedia.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baileyparnell/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/skillscamp/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/safesocialmedia/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baileytaylorparnell https://www.facebook.com/SkillsCampHQ https://www.facebook.com/safesocialmedia.co/Twitter: https://twitter.com/baileyparnell http://twitter.com/skillscampHQ