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May 2023Vol. 24, No. 4Social Media Safety Tips for Youth in Foster Care

Social media use can be a fun and engaging activity for youth, but it does come with risks. The Child Welfare Information Gateway factsheet Social Media: Tips for Youth in Foster Care provides guidance for youth in foster care on how to safely and responsibly use social media platforms. The four-page factsheet highlights several concerns, such as those related to privacy, cyberbullying, and mental health, and then offers tips for staying safe online. It emphasizes the importance of “trusting your gut,” using strong privacy settings, not sharing personal information or locations, and being kind while also exercising caution when communicating with others.

The factsheet links to a variety of resources and organizations that provide supplemental information, including the Social Media Safety section of the Information Gateway website. View the tip sheet on the Information Gateway website.