This blog post, written by members of the Library's Information Integrity Team, is part of a series that covers disinformation and other related subjects. The goal is to help create a well-informed citizenry of active participants who shape our world.
Many children use social media daily. There are dozens of apps with photos, videos, and infographics that inundate kids with information. A 2025 report by Common Sense Media noted that the average child under 8 spends approximately 14 minutes per day watching TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube videos₁. By the time they are teens, that number climbs to almost 3 hours.
With so much information coming at them, it can be difficult for kids to determine what is real and what is not. Here are some tips for addressing the ideas and opinions your child might be getting from social media.
Remember: it’s an algorithm; they might not be looking for this
It can be distressing to think that your child is seeking out information that doesn’t align with your values. But don’t worry! Social media apps work with an algorithm, which means that each time they click on a video the app recognizes the hash tags and shows them more of the same. These hashtags can vary widely, some having nothing to do with the video your child was watching. Social media apps track this, creating a feedback loop. Even if kids don’t look for that content it shows them more, which means they have greater interaction with those types of videos, which means the app shows them more. These videos are designed to be clicked. They are particularly designed to be clicked by kids, often with bright bold thumbnails and catchy headings.
Kids still use concrete thinking
The Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget used the term “concrete operational thinking₂” to describe the development of children between seven and 11 years old. They are just starting to use logic to understand their world. Many of their thoughts and ideas are rigid. This means that when children are confronted with information on social media, they believe it to be real and true—they’re not quite able to think about it more deeply.
Possible solutions:
When addressing the information your child finds on social media, it is important to have meaningful conversations. If you think their information is inaccurate, try asking “why do you feel that way?” instead of “where did you hear that?” This means that your child will need to flex those logic muscles to really investigate their own reasoning. Offer to help them look it up, giving them the opportunity to discover non-social media resources which may be more accurate. Children might not know what a “source” or “citation” is, but you can show them what they look like and give them a broad idea of what they mean, saying “if you see this it means someone studied this topic very closely.”
Teenagers struggle with impulse control
The teenage years are hard! By now, they are trying to figure out their role in society. Piaget calls this the “formal operational stage₂.” They are able to use more flexible thinking, but it can be difficult for them to implement it in the moment. The importance of their social groups and friendship dynamics adds more complications. This new and exciting thing on social media should be shared right now! No time to stop and think!
Possible solutions:
Gentle reminders to slow down and apply their newfound reasoning skills can go a long way. Teenagers can understand abstract concepts and relate them to specific things. But this process requires a little bit more effort, which is difficult when your brain is moving so fast! Conversations with this age group can be direct— “what are you basing this on?” Even more specifically, “which news source are you using?” Teenagers often have familiarity with sources and citations, so challenging them to back-up their statements can be a way to help them pause and consider.
Over the past 20 years we have watched the rise of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and so many more. Social media can be an extremely useful tool in broadening a child’s understanding of the world and its cultures. It is here to stay; in whatever form it may take. Creating a space for a child of any age to share their ideas and concerns about using any of these apps will help them navigate an ever-growing amount of information.
PCPL has access to amazing learning resources which offer in-depth information on various topics-from science to art-for all grade levels. Each topic has references to news articles and tips for further study.
