Staying in the Know With Social Media
Facebook, Snapchat, Tik Tok, Twitter, Instagram, and beyond. Social media seems to be running the universe. Your teenager is probably not a stranger to some social media channels, but now that they are dating, social media takes on a whole different meaning. Know what social media profiles your teen has created. You always want to balance privacy with parental responsibility, and social media can be a dicey, gray area regarding both. How invested you become with your kid's social media profile and friend circle is up to you, but know what your kid is posting, and be sure it aligns with your core values and ethics.
Social media is all about sharing, but not everything needs to be common knowledge. Discuss dating and what should and shouldn't be housed on social media. Have conversations about social media and appropriateness, and discuss how once something is out there, floating around in the virtual universe, it is there for good. Teens have to be smart when it comes to social media, and if they are ever in doubt about whether a line has been crossed, encourage them to come to you to discuss it.
Dos and Don'ts of Texting While Dating
Just as with social media forums, written words in the form of texting can be shared and shared and shared again. Any words (or images) your teen texts to a love interest can go beyond that person. Your teenager should be acutely aware that just because they are a loyal, level-headed person doesn't mean the teen on the receiving end of a text is.
There are also some relationship conversations that don't have a place in texting. Serious chats and break-ups shouldn't be done over text; instead, they should happen in person or over the telephone. This is also something you can teach your dating teen as they begin to learn the faux pas of relationships.
Apps to Watch Out For
There is an app for everything these days, including teen dating and connecting. Some apps are more questionable than others, but as a parent of a dating teen, you may want to periodically check your child's phone to determine if they have downloaded any apps surrounding dating and meeting people. Explore all downloaded apps, learning about what they entail, because descriptions of apps and the reality of them can be two vastly different things.
Dangers of Teen Dating
The dating scene isn't without dangers, especially pertaining to teens, who are often new to this arena. These days, modern technology, social media, texting, and apps must be addressed in the teen dating experience.
Listen Between the Lines
When discussing anything dating or consent-related, listen to your child, like really listen. Teens are not always stellar at saying what they are thinking or asking what they need to. Read between the lines and be sure you are hearing all they are saying, but also, and more importantly, pick up on what they are not saying.
It's not over and done with, not by a long shot. When it comes to teens, dating, and romantic interests, the talk needs to be revisited from time to time to time again. Check in with your kid as they move through the dating experience. They will probably come up with new questions as new situations reveal themselves. Keep the lines of communication wide open, because you want your teen coming to you for answers to their burning, hormonal questions, not gathering ideas and info from their favorite television series characters, friends, or social media.
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