Shine Online: Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time

Help Your Teen Turn Social Media Into Opportunities Instead of Missed Chances

• Shift from fear to opportunity with social media. Instead of only worrying about what could go wrong on social media, you’ll see how your teen can use their accounts to build confidence, skills, and future opportunities
• Watch real teens talking about the positive side of social media makes it click faster. When your teen hears other students explain how they think about their online presence, it lowers resistance and opens the door to real conversations at home
• Learn a natural way to talk about their future without pressure. Sitting down together with these short videos and your teen turns a tough topic into a shared moment instead of a lecture
• Understand what colleges and employers are already seeing on your teen's digital footprint. This helps you guide your teen before a post becomes a missed opportunity
• Strengthen trust while helping your teen build something they’re proud of. You’re not just setting rules, you’re helping them create a digital identity that reflects who they are and where they’re going

Posting with Purpose and Perspective

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Understanding Your Teen’s Digital Footprint Now Can Protect Future Opportunities

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Building a Positive Digital Footprint Can Set Teens Up For the Future

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Your Teen’s Online Presence Is Already Shaping Their Future Opportunities

• A positive online footprint is a collection of digital content and interactions that reflect your best qualities, values, and achievements. It’s the intentional, thoughtful, and responsible way you present yourself online, shaping how others perceive you in both personal and professional contexts
• Content that highlights your strengths, showcasing your skills, talents, achievements, and interests through posts, photos, videos, and comments on others' posts
• Posts that demonstrate kindness, respect, and positivity while avoiding controversy or offensive/harmful content
• Content that is truthful and well thought-out while aligning with your goals and aspirations
• Demonstration of responsibility and maturity that will make a strong impression on college admissions officers, potential employers, or scholarship committees

Maturity Matters Before Giving Teens Full Access to Social Media

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How Reposts Can Shape a Teen's Reputation

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Learning What Can Hurt Your Child’s Reputation Helps You Prevent It

Social media posts can have a lasting negative impact on a student's future

Mean comments/cyberbullying

• When a student posts a hurtful comment on someone's photo such as "You're so annoying, no one likes you"
• While some peers might find it entertaining, insulting others online can have serious consequences, especially when viewed by school officials or future employers

Posting about parties

• When a student shares a selfie at a party with alcohol in the background and the words "Best party ever! #livingitup"
• Posts like this have resulted in legal consequences, school penalties, being kicked off clubs/teams or trouble with future opportunities
• This creates the perception that a student was drinking at the party (even if they weren't)

Other negative posts that can become public

• Oversharing drama or emotions
• Explicit photos or sexting that can end up being shared online by others
• Harmful threats of any kind towards others or the school
• Racist jokes or comments
• Theft
• Firearms
• Any illegal activity (stealing, underage driving, dangerous pranks)

Creating a Simple Plan Together Can Lead to Better Habits Without Constant Reminders

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Helping Your Teen Build a Positive Online Presence Can Boost Confidence and Direction

Three-step plan

Step 1: Audit with a Google Search

Other people with similar names will come up even if students aren’t online yet

• Start with Google in “Incognito Mode” and search your name
• You are still trackable, but this temporarily hides the cookies that websites use to customize results for you
• Other people may come up with the same name or a similar name, or other reasons even if a student isn’t online yet—take note of competition for your results
• Check on a monthly basis for new results

Ways others will search for you:

1. First Name + Last Name + School
2. First + Last + City

Step 2: Reflect about YOU 

Students should consider thinking about what they want others to know about them with their online reputation

• What are you interested in?
• What do you want to do with your career?
• Are there examples of others with those similar interests or career goals on social media sites you can follow or get ideas from?
• How do you want to show your unique interests, creative activities, and career goals online?

Step 3:  Shine Online

• Start building a positive set of Google results
• Use a variety of online platforms to showcase your interests, goals, and creative skills instead of using these only as a social pastime
• Think of your profile and messages on any social media platform as having the possibility of being fully visible in your Google results
• Have fun and share your group photos and updates on what you are doing, but think about how every post could be part of your Google results
• Our favorite social media platforms for creating your own positive Google results to Shine Online are: LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and a personal website/portfolio
• Even if your name does not show up on the first page of Google, others might show up (or your social media will appear soon)
• Do the other people who come up under your name have a very positive footprint?  Will they help you get a job/internship/college acceptance?
• Is everything they share Light, Bright & Polite? If not, start creating positive results for yourself that will reach the top of Google results and prevent other people from having negative effects on your future
• If someone only saw one message or photo in your Google results, would it leave decisions makers at your dream college/employer excited to interview you?

Positive Post Ideas for Your Student

• Highlight achievements: Share accomplishments, whether academic, athletic, artistic, or showing personal growth. Add meaningful captions about what these taught you
• Express gratitude: Post about someone who has inspired or supported you, like a teacher, friend, or family member—and share how they've made a difference in your life
• Showcase talents/ hobbies/passions: Share yourself engaged in a hobby, sport, or creative project. Highlight a skill, like a second language, programming, or knitting. Let your personality and interests shine through your content
• Spread positivity: Post a motivational quote, an uplifting story, or an act of kindness you've witnessed. Use your platform to inspire others
• Share your goals: Create a post about your goals or aspirations for the year and what steps you're taking to achieve them. Invite others to share theirs in the comments
• Volunteer & community impact: Highlight your involvement in a community project, volunteer work, or cause you're passionate about. Show how you're making a difference
• Travel & memorable moments: Share photos or stories from trips, family gatherings, or fun activities with friends. Highlight the experiences and connections that matter most to you, showing your appreciation for adventure and relationships

Talking About Social Media as a Family Leads to Safer, More Confident Kids

• "I’d love to learn more about what’s important to you and what you enjoy most. Have you thought about how your online presence can reflect those values and passions?"
• "What are some goals or dreams you have for the future—like college, career, or other opportunities? Let’s talk about how we can use social media to show who you are and help you stand out to the right people."
• "Did you know that many colleges and employers look at social media profiles when making decisions? Let’s think about how your posts could help or hurt those opportunities."
• "I recently heard about a student who got a scholarship because of the amazing things they shared online. What do you think you could post to show off your hobbies, interests, or the things you care about?"
• “Have you ever thought about how certain posts might be seen differently by others? Do you have any ideas how you could ensure your posts are seen positively by others?”

Social media and students in the news

Most employers (90%) factor a job candidate’s social media accounts into their hiring decisions, and 79% have rejected a candidate based on their social media content. - The Manifest

Hear comments and questions from real parents and learn expert advice from special guests (Full Event Replay)

Conclusion

There’s a lot of talk about the negative side of social media, but we tend to overlook the positive impact that social media can have on a student’s future. Students can use their Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn platforms for good by creating a digital portfolio to shine online. These valuable skills can not only help teens learn to balance their screen time, but also create a digital footprint that creates amazing opportunities in the future.College admission officers and potential employers are looking at students' online footprints. Teens who learn how to use their social media accounts to highlight their skills, experience, and values will be ahead of their peers.

Still struggling? Here are more resources parents find helpful

• AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills
• The Impact of Screen Time on Motivation
• Positive Effects of Social Media for Students
• Parental Controls on Student Devices: What Parents & Educators Need to Know