GuardingKids.com

Kids' Books About Social Media and Digital Life

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:16 +0000

The digital life bookshelf · 20 books

Good books.
Better conversations.

Explore social media, friendship, and life beyond the screen. A reading collection for families, educators, and school counselors, with a conversation starter for every book.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The book images, titles, and Amazon buttons below are affiliate links.

Start the conversation

Picture books and graphic novels · suggested starting ages 4–7

Age 4+

Blackout

John Rocco

Let’s talkWhat could your family enjoy together during an evening without screens?

View book on Amazon →

Age 4+

Dot.

Randi Zuckerberg

Let’s talkWhat is something you enjoy exploring both on a screen and outdoors?

View book on Amazon →

Age 4+

Me, Myselfie & I: A Cautionary Tale

Jamie Lee Curtis

Let’s talkHow can taking photos help us remember a moment without missing it?

View book on Amazon →

Age 4+

Nerdy Birdy Tweets

Aaron Reynolds

Let’s talkHow can you show a friend that they have your full attention?

View book on Amazon →

Age 4+

Tek: The Modern Cave Boy

Patrick McDonnell

Let’s talkWhat helps you notice when it is time to take a screen break?

View book on Amazon →

Age 4+

The Couch Potato: The Food Group, Book 4

Jory John

Let’s talkWhich screen-free activity leaves you feeling better afterward?

View book on Amazon →

Age 7+

Bad Kitty Gets a Phone

Nick Bruel

Let’s talkWhat responsibilities should come with a first phone?

View book on Amazon →

Age 7+

Cat on the Run in Cucumber Madness!: Cat on the Run, Book 2

Aaron Blabey

Let’s talkWhat would you want to check before believing a surprising story online?

View book on Amazon →

Age 7+

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers: Gabby Torres, Book 1

Angela Dominguez

Let’s talkHow would you decide what to share with a big online audience?

View book on Amazon →

Growing up in a connected world

Friendships, identity, and digital choices · suggested starting ages 8–9

Age 8+

Finally Heard

Kelly Yang

Let’s talkHow can you tell whether social media is helping or hurting your mood?

View book on Amazon →

Age 8+

Marcus Makes It Big

Kevin Hart and Geoff Rodkey

Let’s talkWho can help you stay true to yourself when other people are watching?

View book on Amazon →

Age 8+

Picture Day: The Brinkley Yearbooks, Book 1

Sarah Sax

Let’s talkWhat makes a photo feel like the real you?

View book on Amazon →

Age 8+

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl

Stacy McAnulty

Let’s talkWhat small step could help you connect with someone new?

View book on Amazon →

Age 9+

Invisible Emmie: Emmie & Friends, Book 1

Terri Libenson

Let’s talkWhat could you do if someone shared a private message without permission?

View book on Amazon →

Age 9+

Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It.)

Tommy Greenwald

Let’s talkWhen might a conversation work better in person than by text?

View book on Amazon →

Age 9+

Queen of Likes

Hillary Homzie

Let’s talkWhat tells you that you matter besides likes or followers?

View book on Amazon →

Age 9+

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World

Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price

Let’s talkWhat is one change that would give you more control over your digital life?

View book on Amazon →

Age 9+

You Go First

Erin Entrada Kelly

Let’s talkHow could an online friendship encourage kindness in everyday life?

View book on Amazon →

Words, belonging, and courage

Peer relationships and personal choices · suggested starting age 10

Age 10+

Posted

John David Anderson

Let’s talkHow might your words affect someone after you have forgotten writing them?

View book on Amazon →

Age 10+

The Hot List

Hillary Homzie

Let’s talkHow could you help someone feel included without ranking or comparing people?

View book on Amazon →

Safer Internet Day 2027: A Ready-Made Reason to Do What We Do Best

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:10:41 +0000

Fellow school counselors, mark your calendars: Safer Internet Day is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.

ConnectSafely frames the day as working toward "not only a safer internet but a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively." That's our language. Digital citizenship, cyberbullying prevention, healthy tech habits, and now AI literacy are baked into the work we already do. This day just gives us a spotlight and a set of free resources to do it with.

A few ideas that fit right into a comprehensive program:

Classroom instruction: Grab a ready-made lesson from safer.connectsafely.org and deliver it the week of February 9. Instant direct student services.
Small groups: A short-term group on digital drama, social media pressure, or gaming balance writes itself around this theme.
Parent outreach: Their workshop materials make a solid evening session or even a one-page handout. Parents are asking for this guidance constantly.
Go bigger: Apply for a grant through the site if your school or community group wants to run a full event, and share your plans with #SID2027.

Start planning at https://safer.connectsafely.org/

Youville is a free, downloadable, educational program

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:35:46 +0000

Youville | https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/youville

Youville is a free, downloadable, educational program to help children ages 8-12 develop skills to be safer online.

Want to teach 8-12 year-olds about privacy and online safety, digital citizenship, understanding advertising, and spotting scams?

A Better Measure Than Screen Time | Tech & Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:41:50 +0000

A Better Measure Than Screen Time | Tech & Learning

https://www.techlearning.com/learning/a-better-measure-than-screen-time

Three takeaways ...

Screen time is an ineffective metric: Counting minutes spent on devices fails to distinguish between passive consumption and active, high-value learning like creating, coding, or collaborating.
Evaluate what technology adds: Instead of relying on a timer, educators should assess edtech based on learning value, accessibility, personalization, human interaction, and whether it truly transforms the experience.
Empower student judgment: Support students in developing critical thinking skills to recognize when technology enhances their learning and when to step away for offline, hands-on work.

Digital Citizenship Week Is October 19–23, 2026!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:54:11 +0000

Digital Citizenship Week | Common Sense Education

In a world filled with AI-generated content, helping our students become independent, critical thinkers has never been more important. Use the free Digital Citizenship Week activities below to help your students build the human, offline-thinking skills they need for a world that's increasingly online. Select your grade band below to see this year's Digital Citizenship Week activities.

Build kids' critical thinking for a world with AI.

https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship-week

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:27:03 +0000

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Instagram | Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-instagram

As digital platforms rapidly evolve, staying informed about social media safety remains a top priority for families and school professionals. Instagram remains one of the primary networks where teens build their digital identities, chat with peers, and consume video content. Understanding how the platform operates—and how its latest protective features work—is crucial for fostering healthy digital habits.

Why Digital Safety Guidance Matters

Implementing active safety measures and maintaining open lines of communication is essential for several reasons:

Protecting Mental Health & Self-Image: Algorithmic feeds and social metrics (such as likes and follower counts) can heighten social comparison, anxiety, and body image concerns.
Reducing Physical Safety Risks: Sharing real-time locations, school identifiers, or routine schedules can inadvertently expose personal details to unwanted audiences.
Mitigating Online Hazards: Proactive filtering helps protect youth from dangerous trends, unverified sellers, or non-consensual interactions.
Fostering Trust: Ongoing dialogue around privacy settings encourages young people to seek support from trusted adults when encountering troubling online situations.

What Makes Adolescents Defend Others Against Cyberhate?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:54:32 +0000

What Makes Adolescents Defend Others Against Cyberhate? Insights From the Normative Social Behavior, Social Learning, and Planned Behavior Theories https://www.researchgate.net/publication/411857165_What_Makes_Adolescents_Defend_Others_Against_Cyberhate_Insights_From_the_Normative_Social_Behavior_Social_Learning_and_Planned_Behavior_Theories

The Big Picture

When cyberhate happens online—whether it’s toxic comments, hateful memes, or targeted harassment aimed at someone’s identity—most teens aren’t the bullies or the victims. They are bystanders.

Researchers wanted to answer a simple question: What actually pushes a teen bystander to step in and defend someone online instead of just scrolling past?

How They Studied It

The researchers surveyed 2,539 secondary school students in Spain (ages 11 to 18). They tested three major psychological theories to see which framework best explains defending behavior:

Theory of Normative Social Behavior (TNSB): Focuses on social pressure and what you think your peers expect you to do.
Social Learning Theory (SLT): Focuses on a mix of social norms, personal confidence, past experiences with online hate, and social motivators (like wanting online popularity).
Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB): Focuses on your mindset, how much control you feel you have, and your explicit intention to help.

Key Takeaways & Results

1. Social Expectations Matter Most (“Norms”)

Across all three models, social norms were a huge factor. If teens believe that their friends, family, and teachers expect them to help—or would approve of them standing up to hate—they are far more likely to intervene. What the people around you care about directly shapes how you act online.

2. Confidence is Essential (“Self-Efficacy”)

Knowing that cyberhate is wrong isn’t enough. Teens only step up if they feel self-efficacy—the belief that they actually have the skill, confidence, or power to handle the situation effectively.

3. Age and Gender Differences

The data showed that girls and younger students were statistically more likely to take a defensive stance and support victims of cyberhate than older students or boys.

4. Which Theory Won?

All three theoretical models did a solid job explaining the behavior, accounting for up to 50.8% of why teens defend others. However, Social Learning Theory (SLT) proved to be the most comprehensive model because it balanced environment, personal confidence, and social expectations all at once.

The Bottom Line

If schools or social media platforms want to stop online hate, just telling kids “hate is bad” doesn’t work. The research shows two main ingredients are necessary to get bystanders to act:

Build a supportive culture: Make standing up for others the expected norm among friend groups and in classrooms.
Build practical confidence: Give teens concrete strategies so they feel safe and capable when stepping in.

Protecting Kids Online in the AI Era: The Path Forward (2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:04:59 +0000

This paper is intended for policymakers, parents and caregivers, journalists, industry stakeholders, and all advocates concerned with what has become one of the greatest challenges of our time: balancing the benefits of advanced technology while the well-being of all children. It assesses key policy and legal debates around kids' online safety over the last five years, provides a framework for understanding their contours, and outlines critical steps that governments and advocates should take now. The solutions are at hand to protect children's safety and the continued growth of technology. The path forward requires bold leadership and vigilance among those who know the status quo is unacceptable.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/featured-content/files/common-sense-media-protecting-kids-online-in-the-ai-era-the-path-forward.pdf

School Counseling Professional Development

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:16:00 +0000

Dr. Russell Sabella offers workshops, presentations, webinars, keynotes, and other speaking engagements.

Professional development may last from one hour to the span of a course or institute. Download a catalog that details various topics including:

Artificial Intelligence in School Counseling
Data Boot Camp for Counselors (also available online)
School Counselor Side Hustle
Solution Focused Brief Counseling and Parent/Teacher Consultation
Technology Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts Boot Camps
… and more!

https://schoolcounselor.com/professional-development/

From Social Media to School Halls: Understanding and Preventing Cyberbullying

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:13:00 +0000

What is Cyberbullying? | Tech & Learning

https://www.techlearning.com/how-to/what-is-cyberbullying

Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:40:00 +0000

Teens largely turn to TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat for fun and connection. But experiences around messaging, screen time and cyberbullying vary. And what teens say about how these sites impact their mental health

1. Unique Platform Roles

Teens use social apps for distinct purposes: TikTok dominates for entertainment and product reviews, Snapchat is the hub for close personal relationships, and Instagram serves as the primary way to follow interests and celebrities.

2. Snapchat’s High Engagement

Snapchat leads in active daily use, with 57% of teens messaging others and 30% posting original content every day. It remains the top choice for real-time, peer-to-peer connection compared to other major platforms.

3. TikTok’s Disruption Potential

TikTok users report the most difficulty with digital boundaries. Approximately 30% feel they spend too much time on the app, and it is significantly more likely to interfere with sleep and productivity than its competitors.

4. Positive Mental Health Leanings

While roughly 60% of teens say social media has no impact on their mental health, those who do report an effect lean positive. Specifically, nearly half of users say Snapchat helps strengthen their friendships.

5. The Parent-Teen Disconnect

A notable gap exists regarding screen time perceptions: only 28% of teen TikTok users feel they are on the app too much, compared to 44% of parents who believe their teen’s usage is excessive.

Read the full report:

Teens’ Experiences on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat | Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/04/15/teens-experiences-on-tiktok-instagram-and-snapchat/

Roblox Introduces New Age-Based Accounts and Expanded Parental Controls for Users Under 16

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:50:00 +0000

Roblox is rolling out some big changes to keep younger players safer! Starting in June, they’re introducing new age-based accounts: Roblox Kids for ages 5–8 and Roblox Select for ages 9–15. These accounts will automatically limit content to age-appropriate games and set stricter communication defaults. Parents are also getting more granular controls, including the ability to approve specific games or block others entirely. It’s a major step toward making the platform a better environment for families and younger creators alike. Check out the full update from Roblox CEO David Baszucki

here

Bullying and Cyberbullying Offending Among US Youth: The Influence of Six Parenting Dimensions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:29:00 +0000

Abstract

Bullying and cyberbullying prevention remain a major priority for schools, communities, and families, and research is clear that positive, constructive parenting practices can play a key preventive role. The current work explores six dimensions of parenting (warmth, structure, autonomy support, rejection, chaos, and coercion), and their specific relationship to school and online bullying. Using survey data from a nationally representative sample of 1474 English-speaking 12- to 17-year-old US youth, we found that students whose parent(s) exhibit warmth, structure, and autonomy support are less likely to have engaged in bullying or cyberbullying offending, while those with parental relations marked by rejection, chaos, and coercion are more likely to have participated in both forms of peer aggression. Implications for developing stronger parent-child relationships through improved parenting practices as a mechanism for bullying prevention are discussed.

Highlights

Approximately 21% of US youth have bullied someone else at school in at least one or more ways in the last 30 days.
Approximately 5% of US youth have bullied someone else online in at least one or more ways in the last 30 days.
Positive parenting in the form of warmth, structure, and autonomy/support were linked to lower bullying and cyberbullying.
Negative parenting in the form of rejection, chaos, and coercion were associated with higher levels of bullying and cyberbullying.
Parental influence has a stronger impact on cyberbullying as compared to traditional bullying.

Bullying and Cyberbullying Offending Among US Youth: The Influence of Six Parenting Dimensions | Journal of Child and Family Studies | Springer Nature Link https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-021-02208-7

Vicarious supervision: Preventing cyberbullying through positive parent-child relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:14:00 +0000

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2026). Vicarious supervision: Preventing cyberbullying through positive parent-child relationships. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 102140.

Abstract

As youth face various Internet-based risks while interacting online, parents need theoretically grounded, evidence-based insights on strategies to prevent their child(ren) from participating in inappropriate behaviors. An approach that can facilitate better decision-making online, rooted in social bond and attachment theory, is a concept we term vicarious supervision. This perspective emphasizes the parent-child relationships in the prevention of online misbehaviors. In particular, we argue that youth who are strongly attached to their parents will be more likely to believe that their parents know what they are doing online and as a result be less likely to misbehave online. Using a nationally-representative sample of 2500 middle and high school students between the ages of 12- and 17-years-old in the United States, we examined whether those who: (1) were strongly attached to their parents, (2) perceived their parents as knowing what they are doing online, and (3) considered how their parents would feel about their online activities, would be less likely to participate in cyberbullying. Results indicated that positive parent-child attachment did reduce a child's likelihood of participating in cyberbullying. Moreover, children who considered how their parents would feel about their online behaviors were less likely to cyberbully others. Implications for cyberbullying prevention and future research on these parent relationship concepts are discussed.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178926000157

Safer Internet Day from ConnectSafely

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:42:00 +0000

Safer Internet Day aims to not only create a safer internet but also a better internet, where everyone is empowered to use technology responsibly, respectfully, critically and creatively.

Safer Internet Day | Safer Internet Day USA https://safer.connectsafely.org/

Teach Digital Citizenship: Free lessons and activities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:13:00 +0000

Teach Digital Citizenship: Free lessons and activities that help students build essential digital habits and skills.

https://www.commonsense.org/education?lid=q88wpo0ec9dz

Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman Web Series

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:39:00 +0000

Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman Web Series | CBS Evening News - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLotzEBRQdc0f3PrQlYhNyDjIHF8bhOlpn

Poll shows most teens oppose classroom cellphone bans | K-12 Dive

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:41:00 +0000

Poll shows most teens oppose classroom cellphone bans | K-12 Dive

About 38 states have laws or policies on K-12 classroom or school cellphone usage, according to Ballotpedia. About 29 states have policies banning or limiting cellphones in classrooms.

https://www.k12dive.com/news/most-teens-oppose-classroom-school-cellphone-bans/809624/

The power of productive struggle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:54:00 +0000

This flyer from the Brookings Institution provides parents and caregivers with practical strategies to help children aged 10–14 develop resilience and persistence when using generative AI tools. It emphasizes that while AI can offer quick answers, it often leads to “easy button” thinking that can undermine a child’s willingness to work through difficult problems. To counter this, the guide encourages families to set goals for AI use, treat AI mistakes as learning opportunities, and celebrate the process of learning rather than just the final output.

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Brookings_Persistence-Through-Challenges-A_Flyer_DIGITAL.pdf

YouTube is adding new parental controls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 22:05:00 +0000

YouTube is adding new parental controls that let you set daily time limits or block access entirely for kids watching Shorts on supervised accounts.

YouTube Safety Update: New Parental Controls for Teens - YouTube Blog
https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/updates-youtube-supervised-accounts-teens/

The rise of deepfake cyberbullying

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:16:00 +0000

The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools - ABC News
Schools are facing a growing problem of students using artificial intelligence to transform innocent images of classmates into sexually explicit deepfakes. The fallout from the spread of the manipulated photos and videos can create a nightmare for the victims.

The challenge for schools was highlighted this fall when AI-generated nude images swept through a Louisiana middle school. Two boys ultimately were charged, but not before one of the victims was expelled for starting a fight with a boy she accused of creating the images of her and her friends.

Common Sense Media: The 2025 Rewind

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:04:00 +0000

This year, parents came to Common Sense Media looking for something more than just “good movies for kids” or “age-appropriate content.” You were searching for stories that teach integrity. Movies that model empathy. Shows that demonstrate what good teamwork really looks like.

Best Family Movies, Shows & Books of 2025 | Common Sense Media https://www.commonsensemedia.org/best-of-2025

OpenAI’s Teen Safety Blueprint, and What AI Platforms Should Do Next

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:57:00 +0000

Read the full article:

OpenAI’s Teen Safety Blueprint, and What AI Platforms Should Do Next -
https://cyberbullying.org/open-ai-teen-safety-blueprint-takeaways

Australian social media ban aims to 'save teens from predatory algorithms'.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:16:00 +0000

Australia is implementing a new law to prevent children under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, with enforcement beginning on December 10, 2025. The government's Communications Minister, Anika Wells, has been a leading advocate for the legislation, arguing it will protect young people from the harmful content and addictive algorithms found on social media platforms.

Australian social media ban aims to 'save teens from predatory algorithms'. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Gdsfz_te1Q4

More information here: Communications Minister Anika Wells speaks about the social media ban at Press Club | ABC NEWS - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DCZAZy9jO4

What's Happening in Boys' Digital Worlds

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 16:25:00 +0000

A new study from Common Sense Media just dropped some eye-opening findings about how adolescent boys are navigating masculinity online. As a researcher and a parent of two adolescent boys, I have a personal stake in helping boys understand that there are multiple ways to be a man, not just a narrow version promoted in social media feeds and gaming communities. Some of the findings about what's happening with boys in digital spaces confirmed my own observations, and others surprised me. But it all has implications for your classroom too, where you may see impacts from a wide range of influencers.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/boys-in-the-digital-wild-online-culture-identity-and-well-being