When the first news stories of COVID hit in late 2019, we were all hooked. The news channel was on almost everywhere you went and even when you were safe from the TV, your phone was a constant reminder of the growing pandemic.
Fast forward to mid-2020 and mental health was the topic of the day with experts telling us to limit our exposure to media and find joy in our little locked down lives. Time travel again to mid 2022 and we’re exhausted. The zombie apocalypse has come and gone and come and gone, Australia was on fire, then it was flooded and then Mr Putin decided it was time to take over the world.
It’s enough to drive any well adjusted adult into the ice cream aisle let alone a teenager battling with the challenges of adolescence. So should we be shielding our girls from the news or exposing them to the cold hard truths of the world? We’ve put together a quick and simple guide to help you navigate the news with your teens:
1. Don’t Bury Your Head in the Sand
It’s our natural instinct as parents to want to shield our little loves from all the evil of this world but with teens spending hours a day on their phones, they are probably more up to date than we are. They are going to hear the news of the day whether we like it or not so it’s better to be open and honest about what’s going on in the world.
2. Talk With Them Not At Them
Try not to think about ‘age appropriate’ communication and think instead about ‘maturity appropriate’ communication. Some 13 year olds are ready and willing to chat about the geo-political situation in Eastern Europe while others just don’t know and don’t care. Follow their lead and be open to having a conversation you didn’t think you would be having.
The same goes with their emotional reaction. Some news stories make us feel scared or angry and that’s okay. Give them space to feel those emotions and talk through any questions they have.
3. Explain the Media’s Agenda
This is an important reminder for us ‘grown ups’ as well. The media will largely be more focused on ratings, clicks and hype over ethical and responsible journalism. Explaining to your teen that not every piece of news they encounter is accurate and the media will rarely showcase positive stories which gain less attention. This will help to contextualise big, scary new stories and make for more discerning media consumers.
4. Model Limits
Showing your teen how to protect their energy and limit exposure to media is an important lesson they will carry with them to adulthood. An honest and open chat is a great start but modelling this behaviour will go further than any words will.
This might look different for each family. Consider how often you watch the news, whether you have news alerts set on your phone and how often you have periods of ‘no media’ time. Setting some boundaries with media will be good for the whole family.