Did your children unwrap new technology presents this holiday? The season is a popular time for gifting new devices like tablets, smart watches, gaming consoles and phones. While new devices can feel exciting, they can also feel overwhelming. You may be asking yourself “What should I do to maintain safety?” or “How can I set appropriate limits?”

The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has introduced a Glossary of Digital Media Platforms that provides detailed information (including control settings) about social media, video sharing and gaming apps that might be available on your child’s new device.

“Parents often express uncertainty about where to begin when introducing a new device into the home,” said Megan Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH, FAAP, co-medical director of the center. “This guide is here to help. It offers simple tips for setting up, managing, and keeping tech safe, while ensuring it remains fun and balanced.”

Here are some simple tips to help you manage new devices in the home:

Set up device control settings

Enable parental controls: Turn on parental controls to block access to risky or inappropriate content based on your child’s age. This will help create a safer online experience. For example, parents/guardians can add website content filters to phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. Gaming consoles often have associated parent control apps that can help you set limits based on your family’s preferences. To better understand what content and boundaries might be appropriate for your child based on age, explore our 5 Cs of Media Use resource.

Get a good night’s sleep: Many devices allow the user to have specific restrictions for nighttime to prevent devices from disrupting sleep routines.

Set time limits and reminders: Use built-in tools to limit time on their devices and set reminders to help your child manage device use effectively.

Take a break: Apps such as Time Out are useful as reminders to step away from the screen.

Talk about online privacy and security

--Enable privacy settings: Ensure privacy settings are turned on to protect personal information.

--Know what data apps collect: Walk through the various application settings together so you can be aware of what data apps are collecting about your child and how it is being used. Some devices such as smartphones offer the option to review or change an app’s permission to track your data.

--Take a digital citizenship class: Consider learning about online safety and responsible internet use together.

Set initial boundaries and check in on a regular basis

--Establish rules around media with input from your child.

--Have regular check ins: You can ask things like: “What’s working well?” or “What could I be doing better to role model healthy technology use?”

Learn about Social Media:

--Learn more about topics like privacy settings, customizing your feed, messaging controls, and parental controls. Together you and your child can decide which social media apps may be worth downloading versus others. Visit the Glossary of Digital Media Platforms to learn more.

--Educate yourself about different social media platforms and trends.

--As you explore technology together, be open to learning from your kids. They may have valuable insights or tips to share.

More information is available at Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

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About Dr. Moreno

Megan Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH, FAAP, is a member on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communication and Media and the lead author of the 2016 academy policy statement, "Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents." She is principal investigator of the Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Team (SMAHRT) within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Moreno served on committee for the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's report: " Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy and Practice."

About Dr. Radesky

Jenny Radesky, MD, FAAP, is the David G. Dickinson Collegiate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School. She is Director of the Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and focuses clinically on autism, neurodiversity, and advocacy. Her NIH-funded research examines the use of mobile and interactive technology by parents and young children, parent-child relationships and child social-emotional development. She authored the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statements "Media and Young Minds" and "Digital Advertising to Children" and is a co-Medical Director of the SAMHSA-funded AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

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