Dustianne North's presentation on Mentoring Relationships and Social Media.

1. by Dustianne North, MSW
Bay Area Symposium
Hosted by Bay Area Mentoring,
A division of Friends for Youth’s Mentoring Institute
September 27, 2012

2. Learning Objectives
• Gain insights into how California youth are utilizing social
media
• Consider how the prevalence of social media is affecting youth
• Identify issues for mentor programs and mentors to
consider, regarding the use of social media in mentoring
relationships
• Explore tips and recommendations for positive social media
interactions with youth

3. How are youth
using social media?

5. Key Report:
The following slides contain information provided by
The Adolescent Health Collaborative
In their report entitled,
“Impact of Social Media on
Adolescent Behavioral Health in California.”
www.californiateenhealth.org

6. Commonly used social media
by teens
Type Example % Teens who use nationally
Text messaging Cell phone feature 75% of all teens own a cell phone
88% of cell phone-owning teens
text
72% of all teens use text
messaging
Social Networking sites Facebook, MySpace 73% of online teens have used a
social networking site
Online video sites YouTube.com 63% of online teens watch online
videos
Online gaming SecondLife.com 61% of online youth play games
online, including multiplayer online
games
Blogging within social networking Facebook or MySpace feature 52% of online teens have
sites
Teens, smartphones and texting: commented on a blog
One in four teens own smartphones Most teens text 60-100 times per day
75% of homeless youth use social media 20% of teens don’t or cannot use landlines
39% of teens don’t use email – they prefer social network messages.

7. How is the use of social
media affecting youth
development?

8. Benefits of social media use by
youth
Extends existing friendships.
Provides a supportive environment to explore romance, friendship, social status, and shared
interests.
Teens from lower income families are more likely to use online social networks than wealthier
teens.
Teens find support online that they may lack otherwise, especially marginalized groups (i.e.
LGBTQ, illness/disability).
A key source of information and advice, including health information about sensitive topics.
Teens report gaining more independence and freedom via cell phones.
Appreciate voice calling to seek out social support.

9. “Teens’ online risks match those
faced offline”
Online risks vary by
- the type of risk
- use of media
- youth psychological makeup
Teens most at risk are those who engage in risky behaviors offline as well.
Adolescent Mental Health and Social Media:
• Peer rejection and a lack of close friends are among the strongest predictors of depression and
negative self-views.
• Teens who use media heavily report getting into trouble often, more sadness, discontentment
and boredom.
• 68% of U.S. girls report having a negative experience on a social networking site, including
fights on Facebook and “burn” pages for taunting or teasing others.

10. Risks of youth use of social media
• Cyberbullying
• Texting/Sexting
• Adolescent Relationship Abuse
• Online Sexual Solicitation and Predation
• Privacy

11. Negative experiences
on social media
Negative experiences on social media:
• 25% of social media teens have had an experience on a social network site that
resulted in a face-to-face argument or confrontation with someone.
• 22% have had an experience that ended their friendship with someone.
• 13% have had an experience that caused a problem with their parents.
• 13% have felt nervous about going to school the next day.
• 8% have gotten into a physical fight with someone else because of something that
happened on a social network site.
• 6% have gotten in trouble at school because of an experience on a social network
site.
Source: Lenhart, A., Madden, M., et al. (2011). Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites.

12. Negative experiences
on social media, cont’d
Bullying:
• 9% of all teens have been bullied via text message in the last 12 months.
• 8% say they have experienced some form of online bullying.
• 7% say they have been bullied by voice calls over the phone.
• Girls are much more likely than boys to report they had been bullied in various
ways, except in-person bullying, which is about equal for boys and girls.
Source: Lenhart, A., Madden, M., et al. (2011). Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites.

13. The Digital Divide
There has been a closing of the access gap for some populations using new technologies.
• Teen internet access is highest among White teens with college-educated parents and
household incomes above $50,000.
• Black and Latino teens are now just as likely as White teens to create a social network profile.
• The amount of time teens spend using media daily has risen sharply, especially among Blacks
and Latinos.
• Black and Latino youth are also the heaviest consumers of media content via the cell phone.
• Rates of use is low for low-income, rural youth in California:
• <10% own computers
• Teens less likely to own their own cell phones.

14. Recommendations of Report
For Parents and Caregivers:
• Awareness
• Engagement
• Respect for privacy and empowerment
“Discussing media content with teens is more effective than
prohibiting access, in reducing the amount of personal
information disclosed.”

15. Recommendations of Report
For Community:
• Technological solutions Internet providers and social networking sites need to
keep working with parents and policy makers to develop safe technologies for teens.
• Health providersMedical and mental health providers need to include routine
screenings to assess risk for depression that consider a teen’s social media use.
• Schoolsneed to update media literacy guidelines to include information on
successful new media use, online risks, and education about laws that pertain to
them.
• Non profits need to maximize the opportunity to reach teens through social
networking.
• ResearchEvaluation research is needed on the success of social media-based
interventions, particularly those focusing on urban and rural teens from low income
families and those with poor home environments.

16. Key Questions:
What are your general thoughts about what
we just learned?
What does this information mean for
mentors?
What does it mean for mentoring program
staff?

17. Examples of Social Media use
Some innovative campaigns by non-profit and government groups using social
networking websites to benefit teens and young adults:
• Networks of teens who can spread the word to their peers about risky behaviors and positive
choices
• Websites that allow teens to upload their own photos/videos to create positive message ads.
• Web resources for seeking information on healthy/responsible sexual lifestyles, including
testimonials about lifestyle choices by teens and celebrities, and videos in Spanish
(http://www.teensource.org).
• National campaign to prevent relationship abuse, and “That’s Not Cool Callout Cards” (e-cards)
that teens can send to friends and partners (www.Thatsnotcool.com).
• A website where GLBT teens can find videos of other youth and individuals with encouraging
messages about making it through the difficult teen years, especially regarding harassment
and bullying (www.Itgetsbetter.org )

18. The use of social media in
mentoring relationships

19. Benefits of Using Social Media
in Mentoring Programs
• Face-to-face interaction is best, but connecting via social networking sites can
enhance face-to-face relationships.
• Communication can occur at anytime and anywhere (including
campuses, libraries, homes, coffee shops, schools, and libraries).
• Unique qualities of electronic communications, such as thoughtful responses.
• Excellent way to enhance mentee’s writing, reading, and online skills.
• Mentees may discuss subjects online that they are not always comfortable
discussing in person.
• Can help stay in touch when youth experience transiency
• Online platforms sometimes provide insights into mentees’
needs, lives, interests, and concerns

20. Risks of Using Social Media in
Mentoring Programs
• Greater risk of miscommunication, conflict, or hurt feelings between adults and
youth.
• Violations of privacy of mentors, mentees, program environment
• Mentor misconduct, need for monitoring
• Mentor-mentee boundary issues
WHAT OTHERS???

21. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations
Maintain strong boundaries online:
Consider having secondary profile for mentoring relationships
Modify privacy settings so mentees cannot see photos and updates in which
mentor is “tagged.”
Consider preventing anyone besides already-established “friends” or “friends of
friends” from viewing your profile picture
Consider allowing only “friends” or “friends of friends” to send messages or friend
requests
Note that mentees’ parents/guardians may monitor your public profile

22. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations, cont’d
Mentor programs may discuss privacy and safety on online
forums:
Create “group” pages that only invited members can join or view
Scrutinize friend requests
Mentoring organizations can create Facebook fan pages, blogs, or YouTube
channels to connect with mentees rather than personal pages

23. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations, cont’d
Mentors: assist/advise mentees about how to protect
their own privacy:
Monitor whether mentees are spending too much time online, especially in
inappropriate chat rooms
Remind mentees that once something is posted online (comments, photos), there
is no way to “take it back.”
Discuss importance of keeping passwords private
Supplement parents’ advice for safety and privacy

24. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations, cont’d
Tips for utilizing online video:
Take video of activities with mentee and post online, showing you’re proud of
them.
Help youth produce their own videos, music recordings, etc.
Teach youth how to effectively use online communication, and when not to.
Video chat (Skype, Facetime) with mentees

25. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations, cont’d
Tips for positive relationships within social media:
Face-to-face interaction is best, but connecting online can nurture bonds
Mentors can assist mentees with basic social and communication skills
Mentors should consider how their use of social media can influence youth
Be clear in your writing
Maintain professionalism
Keep records of communications
Always reply
Don’t engage in conflict with mentee online.
Don’t multi-task when communicating online; focus on mentee.
Ask mentees which methods of communication are best for reaching them; be
available by methods that mentee uses most.

26. Tips, Tools and
Recommendations, cont’d
Specific tips for corresponding:
Remember that nonverbal cues are absent, so be mindful of written words
Start message with friendly greetings
Place  or other relevant emoticons
Rarely use all capital letters
Read mentee’s messages carefully, ask questions for clarification
Share websites that may be helpful to mentee

27. Resources
Please see handout for list of resources

28. Thank you!