Understanding Your Teen’s Algorithm

Big realization alert! You know you’re truly an adult when this happens. Staying home and going to bed by 9pm? Don’t tempt us with a good time! 

Parenting in the digital age is so overwhelming that it can be hard to know where to start. So we made a guide because we needed a guide. Screen Sense is our new workshop, a step-by-step guide to help protect your child online with essential phone and social media safety tools. To keep your kids safe and smart on the internet, you need more than just an understanding of the technology—you need to know how to navigate it. We’ll equip you with both, so you can confidently guide your child through the digital world and help them use technology responsibly. And maybe even get them to rejoin family dinner.

Understanding Your Teen’s Algorithm

Not all algorithms are created equal. What you’re being fed on IG and TikTok is likely extremely different from what your teen is seeing. And we don’t know about you guys, but for us, the FYP has been FYPing. It’s mostly light-hearted stuff we want to see: wellness tips, recipe hacks, parenting advice, mom humor, workout motivation and CleanTok (those last two feel a little too pointed but we’ll allow it). But for our teens, it’s a lot more layered, and sometimes downright dark. Their FYP likely feeds them the equivalent of emotional junk food. If it was just a little here and there, it would be mostly benign. But it’s constant–weight loss and beauty filler “tips” sexualized videos and even self-harm content disguised as being “funny” or “relatable” but are actually very concerning. The algorithm is a fast learner. Every scroll, every like, every view will shape what your teen sees next. 

What do we do about it? If your teen is consuming too much negative content, there is hope. They can reset their algorithm by holding down on videos that bring them discomfort and select the “not interested” option. This tells the algorithm to stop feeding them content that falls into this category. Your teen can also clear their history or go on a 3-day scrolling hiatus which will also cleanse the negativity from their feed. Lastly, you can encourage them to fill their FYPs with positive and uplifting creators. What they see on a daily basis impacts how they feel about themselves, and the sooner they understand that, the better off they will be! 

The Best Time To Connect With Your Kids May Surprise You 

The teen years are the busiest. From sporting events to after-school clubs to birthday parties to SAT prep and everything in between, it seems the car is where many parents spend the majority of their time with their kids. One mom makes the compelling argument that this is exactly why car rides are the best place to connect with your teen. And that makes total sense! It is basically built-in one-on-one time. If you have more than one child, whichever child you’re with gets your full attention. It’s a great time to talk about how they’re feeling and maybe even spill some tea 👀. Whatever they want to chat about is up to them. It’s low stakes and informal. Sometimes those are those moments you’ll both treasure the most! 

The “Right Amount” of Screentime

Does that even exist? The answer (at least to us) is layered. It’s dependent on a few factors, most notably your child’s age. If they’re under 2 years old, it’s recommended they avoid screens all together (except video calls with loved ones of course!). Between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, an hour of screen time is reasonable but it should be with an adult as often as possible. Screentime can get more flexible as they get older, but even at their oldest (16-18), kids really should not have more than 3 hours of screen time a day at the absolute most.

But it’s more than just a formula. Every kid is different. The most important thing is to ask yourself if your kid’s screen time is negatively impacting their sleep, school work or personal relationships. 

For more tips on navigating the digital world as a parent, check out our Screen Sense guide!

Who To Follow: Positive Influencers For Teens

Social media isn’t all doom and gloom. There are some huge positives that can come from it, especially for teens! We’ve decided to highlight one account per week that we think teens could benefit from following! 

Florence Given, a best-selling author and designer, is truly a gift to women and girls of all ages!  Her uniquely bold and feminist content encourages girls to know their own worth, set healthy boundaries and fiercely shut down anyone who tries to dim their light!