At the end of the day, we just want to raise digitally-savvy teens, but it’s tough to stay on top of all the changes in technology. Parenting adolescents in today’s technology world doesn’t mean we have to be tech experts, but we do need tech tips and resources that enable us to guide them.
Many parenting strategies we apply to their offline lives also apply online. For example, if your child gets their driver’s license, it is totally within bounds to have them sign a cell phone contract (or even a contract for them not to use their phone while driving.) Managing tech is about paying attention, staying tuned in, and setting age-appropriate rules and boundaries. It’s also about enforcing consequences and always remembering that technology is a privilege, not a right.