LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A string of high-profile and disturbing headlines in recent weeks — from the Cornell rape allegations to the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells and the botched execution of Christa Pike — has left many parents wondering how to talk with their teens about what they’re seeing online.
Many teens and young people are exposed to these stories on social media, where details and reactions can spread quickly and be difficult to avoid.
Adolescent psychologist and parenting coach Dr. Cam Caswell said parents should not shy away from conversations about difficult news simply because they are uncomfortable.
Caswell’s guidance for parents centers on starting the conversation and listening first, to understand what teens already know, what they have heard, or what they have been exposed to.
She also encourages parents to consider how much information to share and how to recognize when they may be sharing too much.
She said parents can help teens process what they are seeing and hearing without creating more fear or anxiety, and use difficult moments to reinforce family values and model how to respond when something is wrong.
