How to Teach Kids Digital Literacy Skills, According to a Clinical Psychologist

The sometimes pernicious influence of social media, the dominance of technology in everyday life and the very real parenting struggle of monitoring our children' s interaction with all of it has been a hot topic for quite some time. This conversation reached a fever pitch when Australia made a groundbreaking legislative decision to ban all children under the age of 16 from using social media, in order to protect them from the myriad dangers of these platforms.

I, for one, am entirely in favor of this kind of government intervention—if for no other reason than that the rules I attempt to impose in my own home are so easy for my kids to disregard; I don’t have the resources or the power to make such a sweeping decision with any success. That said, I don’t see a similar bill being passed stateside anytime soon, so I went to a licensed psychologist with the nagging question du jour: How do you effectively teach kids digital literacy skills? Read on for her hot take on the breaking news out of Australia, plus her actionable advice on how to ensure that our kids engage with social media safely.

Dr. Bethany Cook, PsyD, MT-BC, is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of For What It’s Worth: A Perspective on How to Thrive and Survive Parenting. She's a sought-after therapist and quoted media expert who brings accessible, real-world guidance to families of all socioeconomic and mental health backgrounds, based on more than 20 years of clinical experience in the field.

From AI to new social media platforms, technological developments are happening so rapidly that it’s hard for most of us to even catch up, let alone predict and respond to the unintended consequences of this “progress.” Government restrictions on access to technology are quite controversial for a number of reasons. (Censorship and governmental overreach come to mind.) Still, there’s a compelling case to be made for this kind of action—and, at the very least, it’s a debate worth having. I asked Dr. Cook what she thought about the social media ban in Australia, and here’s what she said:

“I believe placing a ban on social media for vulnerable youth is a responsible and forward-thinking decision,” she says. “We now have far more research than we did when social media first became widely accessible to children. Long-term studies are showing consistent links between heavy social media use and rising rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, body image issues, attention difficulties and increased risk of self-harm in youth. The adolescent brain is still developing, particularly in areas related to impulse control, emotional regulation and reward processing. Social media platforms are intentionally built around instant feedback, comparison and dopamine driven engagement. That combination makes young users especially vulnerable.”

As the risks involved with social media has become clearer—with research backing it up—"governments have a responsibility to respond,” Dr. Cook shares. “We regulate alcohol, tobacco and gambling because developing brains are more susceptible to harm. The same logic can apply to digital environments that show measurable psychological impact.”

Essentially, countries that choose to limit youth access are not rejecting technology. They are recognizing that innovation without guardrails can carry unintended consequences. When a nation places mental health and human development above monetization, it signals a long-term investment in societal stability.

At this point, if you’re reading this from anywhere outside of Australia, you’re probably wondering how you can protect your kids in the absence of a major government intervention. Below, you will find Dr. Cook’s top strategies for teaching digital literacy skills, starting from the toddler age all the way through the tween and teen years.

Set clear boundaries such as no phones at meals, no devices in bedrooms overnight and a consistent screen cutoff time. This protects sleep, reduces power struggles over screen time and models healthy limits. Even if your child is too young to be interacting with social media—the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until at least age 13—you still want to get a headstart on setting screen-time rules across the board. (Trust me, it’s really hard to go backwards.) Rules work best when parents follow them too.

Have an honest conversation about how social media makes money. Explain algorithms in simple terms. Help them understand that apps are designed to keep them scrolling, liking and watching. When kids understand that they are being influenced, they gain power; awareness reduces manipulation.

Talk openly about likes, followers and comments. Make it clear that numbers are not a measure of value. Show them how people can ‘pay’ for likes or followers and much of what they see is a facade. Ask questions like, “How did you feel when that post didn’t get many likes?” Help them notice emotional reactions and reframe them. Reinforce that real life relationships matter more than digital approval.

Ask guiding questions when scrolling together. Who made this? What are they trying to sell or promote? Is this realistic? Is this edited? This builds skepticism in a healthy way and strengthens media literacy. Children should learn that not everything online reflects reality.

Encourage children to notice how they feel before and after using social media. Energized or drained? Connected or left out? Confident or insecure? Helping them track their emotional patterns builds internal awareness, which is a core digital literacy skill.

Teach them never to share personal information, location, school details or private photos. Go through privacy settings together. Explain screenshots and permanence. A helpful phrase is, “If you wouldn’t want it on a billboard, don’t post it.”

Practice what to do if they see bullying, receive inappropriate messages, or feel pressured to send images. Give them scripts. For example, “I’m not comfortable with that,” or “I’m logging off.” When children rehearse responses, they are more likely to use them in real time.

The goal is not surveillance, it is connection. Let your child know they will not lose access immediately if they come to you with a mistake or concern. If children fear punishment, they hide problems. If they trust the support, they ask for help.