St. Luke’s pediatrician Melanie Koehler, MD, advises parents to delay the start of their child’s use of social media, teach them how to use it and monitor their use until they are adults.

“Young teens are not ready for the exposure that social media brings,” said Dr. Koehler of St. Luke’s Tamaqua Primary Care. “It is our job as parents to keep them safe above all else. We must ensure social media doesn’t interfere with their relationships, academic success and the ability to get quality sleep.

“It’s totally acceptable to keep an eye on their social media use for as long as they are dependents in your house.”

When to let your kids start social media

Dr. Koehler suggests parents delay the start of social media as long as possible. The minimum age on adult social media sites, such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, is 13 - the legal age sites can collect and sell information about someone without being sued.

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that kids be on social media no more than two hours a day, including gaming time. AAP suggests parents have a plan.

For instance, allow them to use the Internet for homework, but otherwise have limits.

“It’s essential to supervise your kids online, especially when kids are just starting to go onto a website. Point out some things, such as if you say this, do you think someone might be offended? Would you be embarrassed if someone other than your closest friends saw this picture? Be hands-on, participating with them,” she advises.

Make sure pictures posted are appropriate for anyone to see. Parents should also heed this advice.

A bully could use a nude baby picture to embarrass your child in elementary or junior high school. She also recommends that parents make the security settings as strict as possible.

Check profiles and details

Look at your child’s profile and ensure they don’t provide details, like where they live or go to school.

“Say you live in Schuylkill County, don’t say you live in a certain town,” she said. “Say, see you at school, but don’t use the school’s name. Turn off the geolocation function and don’t say, I’m at the mall. That’s something predators love. Like in real life, real-time, there should be a sense of stranger danger on the Internet.

“If a stranger messages a child, kids need to shut that down.”

Go through friend invitations together, encouraging them to be selective. Do they genuinely want to friend their cousin’s friend, who they met once?

She also suggests Googling your child’s name, adding you might be amazed at what pops up. Sometimes kids are pretty sneaky. By Googling your child’s name, you might find duplicate accounts you weren’t aware of.

Red flags of social media use

Parents should watch for red flags, such as your child:

• Suddenly increases time spent on social media

• Shuts down or closes windows when you walk into the room

• Seems more withdrawn or angry, especially when unable to be online

• Shows signs of anxiety or depression

Help is available

If you suspect someone is targeting, bullying or grooming your child online, don’t be afraid to seek professional help from behavioral health professionals or law enforcement.

Parents can call 911 or report it to the FBI (tipps.fbi.gov). It will be investigated. In addition, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (https://connect.missingkids.org) has a website (https://connect.missingkids.org) and toll-free number (1-800-843-5678).

“If a child has been drawn into a dangerous social media group and involved with it for months or years, it’s going to be hard to address,” she said. “You want to nip it in the bud. Ask what interests you about this group, what attracts you? Do you think the things they do are OK? And don’t be afraid to seek help.”

On the positive side, social media:

• Enhances communication skills

• Forms social connections

• Increases technical skills

• Facilitates community engagement

• Enables sharing of creativity and talents, such as art or music

• Allows interaction with a more diverse people

• Can enhance academic performance, such as by providing homework help

• Allows access to information about topics kids may not be comfortable talking to their parents about, such as sexuality or mental health

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Koehler, call St. Luke’s Tamaqua Primary Care at 570-645-1540.