Questions to prompt discussion with students:

‍Parents and Teachers: View the full VIP Facilitation Guide Here

Parents & Educators of Elementary School Students (engagement questions): 

See Something, Say Something

• How can you encourage kids to tell you or another trusted adult about something they see online that isn’t appropriate?

Digital Prodigies

• How surprised (if at all) were you that a fourth grader would accidentally discover a way around sites/apps that are blocked? 

Kids Can Be Heroes

• What are some things you can say to your student to help them understand that even kids can help promote online safety (and why it matters)?

Parents & Educators of Middle School Students (engagement questions): 

Getting the Conversation Started

• How did the principle in the video contribute to a student feeling comfortable sharing with him what he found online? 

A Surprise Discovery

• What does the example in this video tell you about the need either to keep kids off TikTok or monitor what content they’re consuming? 

We’re All in This Together

• How can you encourage students to become invested in good digital citizenship for themselves and their classmates, rather than seeing you as an obstacle to their enjoyment of popular apps? 

Parents & Educators of High School Students (engagement questions): 

Promoting an Open Dialogue

• How can you keep an open dialogue with kids about what they see on social media so you can help keep them safe?

Looking Out for Peers

• The student mentioned in the video wasn’t just reporting a safety issue he saw on TikTok; he was helping to protect other kids who might also see it. How can we get students to buy into the goal of working together to make the internet safer? 

Who to Tell

• Who are some trusted adults with whom your teen might share something they see online that doesn’t seem right?

Additional Resources

Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time (What Students, Parents, & Educators Need to Know)

Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact

Instagram App Guide (2024): What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know

Social Media Challenges: What Students, Parents & Educators Need to Know

Conclusion

TikTok is an extremely popular app among students. Parents can work with their students to find ways to use the app safely and in a way that fits with their family values. It is important to engage in a dialogue about appropriate ways to use TikTok, current social media challenges, and what to do in the event that students come across content that makes them feel uncomfortable.