If the very thought of your high school student interacting on a social media network sends chills up your spine, you’re not alone. Many parents fear unleashing their children into the virtual world, and for good reason. Stories of cyberbullying, online predators, and sexting are everywhere you look, so it’s easy to simply take a no tolerance approach to online communication.
The world has changed, though, and while it may not be pleasant to think about, your child will one day become dependent on the internet (well, more so than they already are) to survive and thrive in the professional world. Isn’t it better to teach your child how to use social networks appropriately now rather than have them experiment on their own later?
What are the advantages of LinkedIn for young professionals?
While Instagram and TikTok may be your child’s idea of a good starting point for social networking, LinkedIn may be the better choice. Why? Because LinkedIn has a reputation for being the “professional” social media platform, far away from the pressures of the more aesthetic, anything-goes social media platforms.
Many employers use the site for hiring purposes while others use it as a dynamic job-seeking board as well as a way to network with other, like-minded professionals in their field or industry.
By introducing your child to LinkedIn, you can demonstrate how social media platforms can be used in the workforce, not just as a way to share personal status updates and pictures as people often do on Facebook and other similar platforms. In fact, since more and more employers are requesting LinkedIn profiles in lieu of a traditional resume, it’s important that your high school student learns the ropes now, so that they’ll be ready when it’s time to go on the job hunt.
Getting started with LinkedIn
Although LinkedIn’s policy requires students to be at least 18 years old to join, that doesn’t stop you from showing your child how to use the social media network. If you have an account already established, then use your own profile, connections, and discussion groups to show your child how LinkedIn works.
If you don’t have an account, create one, and learn to use the platform together! Use some of the free resources on LinkedIn Learning to introduce your high school student to the numerous ways the network can help one form professional relationships, research companies and industries, and build a virtual resume for launching a career.
LinkedIn safety precautions for first-time users
Although LinkedIn makes it clear to users that the platform is a professional one, not a place to share personal comments or photos, the site—like any other on the internet—still has the potential to be misused.
As you introduce your child to LinkedIn, take the same safety precautions you normally would when presenting anything online.
- Discuss appropriate use with your child and what your expectations are for how they use a particular app, and their devices in general.
- Encourage them to come to you if they have questions or concerns about anything or anyone they come into contact with.
- If your child is under the age of 18, keep your login information private so that they don’t have access to your account when you’re not around.
Despite your best efforts to keep your child safe and show them how to use the internet and social media platforms correctly (and for professional gain) there is always the potential for bad things to happen. For optimal security, consider installing a parental control tool on your child’s devices, so that you can keep an eye on their activity any time, anywhere, and speak to them if there’s anything you’re concerned about.
