Meta is rolling out a new series of workshops in the US aimed at helping parents manage their children’s screen time more effectively. The ‘Screen Smart’ series focuses on raising awareness of the potential dangers of online exposure and offering strategies to mitigate these risks.
Workshops across five cities
The ‘Screen Smart’ events will take place in Denver, Charleston, Houston, Boston, and Los Angeles. At each location, Meta experts will deliver hands-on educational workshops for parents. These sessions are designed to familiarise parents with the supervision features available on Meta’s platforms. Additionally, academics and clinicians will provide insights on supporting teenagers’ online experiences and discuss further solutions for parental empowerment.
Why do these workshops matter?
As digital literacy among young people soars, many parents find themselves playing catch-up. Meta’s initiative aims to bridge this gap by educating parents about the various tools at their disposal. By understanding how these systems work, parents can better ensure their children’s safety online.
The ‘Screen Smart’ series builds on Meta’s ongoing efforts to protect younger users. This year alone, the company has introduced new alerts to combat sextortion scams, enhanced measures to limit exposure to harmful content, and updated pop-ups that warn about potential impersonation and scam threats.
The evolving landscape of online safety
While Meta has introduced many safety measures, such as the Family Centre, which allows parents to monitor their children’s app usage, these tools are not entirely foolproof. Children often possess the savvy to bypass these settings, which makes parental knowledge and intervention crucial.
This series of workshops is not only vital for highlighting online dangers but also ensures that parents are well-informed about the tools available to safeguard their children. Meta’s proactive approach to hosting the ‘Screen Smart’ series could significantly enhance the digital safety landscape, especially if you’re located in one of the participating cities and can attend an event.
