Should parents be using social media?

Social media like anything new can be intimidating. The rules are different, it's constantly changing and some parents are concerned with how they can keep up.
Since social media is not going anywhere and it's a part of our lives should parents join social media platforms so that they can be able to offer guidance?

 

Personally, I'm opposed to pretty much anyone using social media. I think it offers very little of actual substance to our daily lives.

However, you asked if parents should join social media platforms "so that they can offer guidance". I assume you mean guidance to their children in regards to the children using social media in a safe and responsible manner. Since most social media sites are simply time sinks with little redeeming value I believe parents should keep young children off social media as long as possible. Once the child(ren) have matured to the point that they can be held accountable for their actions and be expected to act responsibly (as their parents have hopefully raised them) I think the parents should slowly introduce them to social media platforms. The parents need only be familiar enough to understand how the platforms work and where the dangers are.

So, parents should certainly familiarize themselves with the most popular social media platforms, but that does not mean they need to become daily users of the sites themselves.

 

I do not see why there would be an issue with parents on social media. Parents come in all ages and are just as hip to social media as the kids. Too much use and inappropriate use for anyone isn't healthy but "parents" should not be limited.