Hey parents, you don't need to lie to your kids about the internet being broken to explain why we're currently asking them to avoid social media for a day or so (its to avoid them seeing some distressing material that is circulating virally).

You *can* explain that using the Net comes with risks & right now those risks are higher, that the online world has a range of material that is not safe for young eyes, and best to trust adults to keep you away from things you can't unsee (no matter how curious you are).

Yes, they're going to be curious (like many of you might be if you don't know what material I am referring to) - that's human nature - to seek out information, to be 'in the know'. Try serving straight answers with a hint of obscurity to keep the curious cats at bay.

Much of this will depend on the age of your kids and your own ability to deal with confronting issues/convos. It's really important to sit with it and show kids that emotion regulation isn't all rainbows and unicorns, but sitting with the yuck bits too.

It's all another (hard) reminder to be quite involved & within arms reach of young people's online worlds. Not in there checking their DM's but having regular 'real talk' about big stuff. If you don't listen to their trifles, they might not bother bring the tricky feels to you.