More and more students have access to technology.  All of the social media sites have been providing parent controls (also don't forget the phone or tablet also has parental controls you can access)

In November 2021, there were a series of congressional hearings, social media companies (Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat and Instgram) were interviewed and questioned about their practice / policies about protecting kids.  The expectation was that these companies are expected to have family protection methods

The companies are now aware of how their platforms can be impressionable and exposes younger users to harmful content and potentially harmful people  The end result is that the platforms lacked sufficient parental controls and safeguards to protect teens.

Here are two supports to help with setting up parental controls for Snapchat and TikTok.  



SNAPCHAT:  This app is recommended for ages 13 and up.  However, if you decide your student is ready, snap chat notes that parents can (link to video on how) access the new controls either from the app’s Profile Settings or by searching for “family center” or related terms from the app’s Search feature.

techcrunch.com/2022/08/08/snapchat-officially-introduces-parental-controls-through-a-new-family-center-feature/
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TIK TOK: Check out this article from How to Use:

How to Activate Family Pairing on TikTok

This is a quoted section from the article: Using Family Pairing, you can connect your own TikTok account with your child’s. This will prevent her from changing any settings on her own. After you enable Family Pairing, you can regulate screen time, content, and communications on your child’s account.
To enable Family Pairing, open TikTok on your phone and tap “Me” in the bottom-right corner. Tap the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the app to open the “Privacy and Safety” menu.
In this menu, tap Digital Wellbeing > Family Pairing. TikTok will ask whether a parent or teen uses this account; tap “Parent.”

• You’ll see details about the tools at your disposal. Tap “Continue” to bring up a unique QR code.
• Next, open TikTok on your child’s phone and tap Me > Three-Dot Icon > Digital Wellbeing > Family Pairing > Teen.
• Your child’s phone will prompt you to scan the QR code displayed on your phone. You might have to give TikTok permission to use the phone’s camera before you can scan the QR code.
• After you scan the QR code, tap “Link Accounts” on your child’s phone. Confirm your choice, and the accounts will link. On your phone, you can now tap your child’s account to access and modify its security settings.
• You can also activate all three parental control features individually on an account without Family Pairing (see below). However, Family Pairing is the only way you can prevent your kids from easily changing these settings.

www.howtogeek.com/658361/how-to-use-tiktoks-parental-controls/

https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/resources/mental-health-resources​


WORKSHOPS
 
Staying Well through the Holidays: An emotional health workshop for teens – Saturday Dec 3, 10 and 17
 
Teenagers already struggling with heavy emotions may not be looking forward to the holidays. But this Saturday workshop series from the Stay Well program shows teens how to cope with holiday stress in healthy ways. If you know a teen who could benefit, pass along this registration link: https://bit.ly/3SCal3D.
 
Coping with Grief and Loss through the holidays – Mondays (Dec 5 and 12) and Wednesdays (Dec 7 and 14)
 
The holiday season can deepen feelings of grief and loss. In this Stay Well workshop series, clinical mental health counselor Zeinab Moussa discusses emotions experienced by those who are grieving, and engages participants in drawing, writing, mental exercises, and relaxation techniques to help them cope.
Register for Mondays at 6 p.m.: https://bit.ly/3U03MsK
Register for Wednesdays at noon: https://bit.ly/3NaD91O
 
Creative Coping – Wednesdays Dec 7, 14, 21
 
Children aren’t born with the ability to understand and manage emotions. They learn those skills as they grow…and our Creative Coping family workshop series can help them get started. In this 4-program series, kids and parents make fun art projects together while exploring identity, self-awareness, and emotional expression. Learn more and register at https://bit.ly/3sE4S1D.
 
 
ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS
 
Support for those with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)  - Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Do the shorter, darker days of winter bring you down? When the seasons change, an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. experience low moods, low energy, and feelings of hopelessness. If you’re one of them, join this Stay Well discussion group to gain emotional support from other Michiganders who feel the same way. Register at https://bit.ly/3TTp6QN
 
Support for managing holiday stress   - Thursdays at 7 p.m.
‘Tis the “season to be jolly.”  But for some, the holidays bring “un-jolly” feelings of anxiety, loneliness and dread, layered upon the uncertainty of another potential COVID winter. Join this Stay Well discussion group to gain emotional support for managing holiday stress.  Register at https://bit.ly/3sM0z4b

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