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Parents' Guide to Social Media

Is Instagram harmful to teens? What age is right for social media? TODAY answers parents' most-asked questions in this guide.

More stories, tips and resources

What does 'lala bop' mean? What parents need to know to protect, inform their kids

The seemingly innocuous term being used to bully teens online.
Emma Stone in the movie "Easy A."
Emma Stone in the movie "Easy A."

Some Fortnite players are owed money for in-game purchases: Here's how to claim it

The maker of the popular video game has agreed to pay refunds after being accused by the FTC of using "design tricks," pushing users to make unintended in-game purchases.
The Epic Games Inc. Fortnite: Battle Royale video game is displayed an iPhone.
The Epic Games Inc. Fortnite: Battle Royale video game is displayed an iPhone.

18 best pregnancy apps for parents-to-be

Pregnancy apps can be a great resource for expectant parents.
Young african pregnant woman having tender moment touching her belly outdoor - Focus on top hand
Young african pregnant woman having tender moment touching her belly outdoor - Focus on top hand

Should parents get to control whether teens use social media? It’s already law in one state

The laws even includes a curfew that locks minors out of their social media accounts between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Teachers sound off on ChatGPT, the new AI tool that can write students’ essays for them

“Kids can just tell it ... to write a 500-word essay on ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’ This thing just starts writing it, and it looks legit.”
Student hands using touchpad on laptop at night
Student hands using touchpad on laptop at night

They fell in love, got married, started a family — all thanks to Twitter

In recent weeks, couples whose love stories began on Twitter have taken to the social media site to reminisce about the DM or tweet that changed everything.

Meta rolls out new privacy features on Facebook and Instagram to help prevent ‘sextortion’ cases

Reports of online enticement, including sextortion, increased by 265% from 2018 to 2021, according to the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children.
Young girl looking into mobile phone screen, in dark room.
Young girl looking into mobile phone screen, in dark room.

I put my family on a 'screentox' for a week. Here's how it went

Could we really survive seven days without any phones, tablets, TVs or computers? Maybe I'm crazy, but I decided to find out.