In this episode, I sit down with Meta’s Global Director of Public Policy, who also happens to be a mom of two teenagers, to discuss the realities of raising kids in a digital-first world. There is a lot that goes into ensuring our teens are safe online, and Tara explains how Instagram is becoming a leader in this arena. Whether you’re worried about screen time, inappropriate content, or online bullying, this conversation is packed with insight and practical help. Here are some topics we cover:
- How Meta uses cutting-edge technology for age verification
- The three biggest concerns parents have about social media- who can contact their teen on Instagram, whether the content their teen sees is age-appropriate, and how much time their teen is spending on social media
- Encouraging open conversations when your teen sees (or does) something online they shouldn’t
Connect with Tara Hopkins:
- Instagram: Tara Hopkins
Links Mentioned:
Related Episodes:
- Creating a Family Tech Plan :: Andrea Davis [Ep 470]
- Cultivating a Healthy Relationship with Tech :: Joey Odom [Ep 425]
- Braving the Tech Landscape Through Connection :: Chris McKenna [Ep 424]
- Creating Digital Safe Spaces :: Chris McKenna [Ep 360]
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I am shocked that you would have a Meta “Global Policy Director” to talk about the safety of Instagram for teens. I am sure that Instagram has “safeguards,” but their main objective as business is to make money by keeping attention and eyes on their page as long and as often as possible. They use an algorithim to tailor content for what is most relevant / attention grabbing for each person. I believe that Instagram is safe for adults but NOT teens who’s brains are still developing and who are more prone to addiction / attachment to social media. Instagram (and all social media) pulls our teens away from real relationships, distracts teens from healthy activities, and causes comparison to others’ appearance, especially in girls. The comparison / social media experience causes lower self esteem and depression, epecially in girls. It is just ridiculous to have a representative from Meta to talk about the “safety” of Instagram. What is Hopkins’ salary? Also, ultimately, she would report to Zuckerberg, who clearly has ulterior motives and has knowingly desinged his products to addict all users, including teens. Wouldn’t her professional role motivate the message she is sending? I would urge you to please look in to the organization Screenstrong and share their message with your followers. Melanie Hempe is their leader and she is an amazing podcast guest. Screenstrong focuses on protecting kids and teens from harmful content influencing teens in our culture — specifically social media, pornography and video games.
Thank you Ellen for sharing your concerns about my choice of guest on the podcast. I hope that you were able to listen to the episode before commenting.
I also hope you have listened to the other episodes we linked to in the show notes with reputable guests who have great ministries in working with parents to deal with technology (like Protect Young Eyes).
My goal with this guest was to hear straight from the corporate side what they are attempting to do to protect teens (and even validate that a child is stating their accurate age when setting up an account), so that parents can see it’s still not enough. That we have to be the ones to coach our kids and stay engaged if we choose to bring social media into their lives.