FALMOUTH — As it gets harder to manage how, where and when kids access social media and online content, Falmouth Middle School is holding a special session for parents.

“Parenting in the Digital Age: Social Media, Gaming, Memes, and More” will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the school library.

The workshop is designed for parents of students in grades 4-8 and will cover issues such as “gaming, social media, technology obsession and how our children are using technology outside of school,” according to Principal Janet Adams.

During the workshop, she said educators and students from Falmouth Middle will share “safety tips and strategies for helping students navigate the complex social aspects of technology in the 21st century.”

Specifically, the school’s technology integrator, librarian, school resource officer and teachers will all present information and resources that parents can turn to.

Adams said the school tries to hold a session like “Parenting in the Digital Age” every few years in order to “keep parents informed about current technology that kids are using. With students having widespread access to phones, tablets and laptops there are issues that come up in all homes and with all ages.”

She said “nothing specific has prompted this information night,” but added, “we are seeing the same issues that middle schools everywhere are seeing,” such as items posted online “spilling over into their lives at school (and) kids spending time on social media while trying to do homework, etc.”

According to Adams, “the focus (will be) middle school students and use of social media in general. Our hope is that parents feel more informed and have some tips for helping students (better) manage their technology use.”

According to a May 2018 report from the Pew Research Center, “Fully 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone, and 45 percent say they are online ‘almost constantly.'”

That same report also notes that Facebook is no longer the most popular online platform for teenagers.

“The social media landscape in which teens reside looks markedly different than it did as recently as three years ago,” the report states. In addition, the report says that “a majority of both boys and girls play video games, but gaming is nearly universal for boys.”

Kate Irish Collins can be reached at 780-9097 or kcollins@theforecaster.net. Follow Kate on Twitter: @KIrishCollins.

Falmouth Middle School is holding a special session called “Parenting in the Digital Age: Social Media, Gaming, Memes, and More,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12.

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