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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

DD13 asks for Instagram

5 replies

Pinkbatrobi · 15/09/2013 18:46

...because apparently ALL her friends have it and she feels left out when she doesn't know what they are talking about... She already has FB and Pinterest, and a Blackberry she uses to BBM her friends, plus an iPod touch she listens music on. She is bright and (generally) sensible, does well at school and seems popular. At home she can be moody and rude one second and little miss charming the other (in other words a teen?) She was very much a reader, but has given up on books (as obviously too busy online) which disappoints me a lot, as does the fact she seems to place a lot of importance on her looks, make up and fashion, all of which I have NO interest in!! I admit I am worried about the amount of time spent on screens and the potential threats of social media I am not familiar with. What do you guys think? Is the way forward based simply on tighter rules re amount of screen time, or should I simply say no to Instagram? DS11 is also quite demanding, and I know I am moody and menopausal myself, but we always seem to be at loggerheads, and I don't know what is best anymore. Please help?!??

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 15/09/2013 19:21

Do you live in my house?Grin

Well, my DD is 14 and DS is 12. DD has an ipod touch and a laptop, and a BB - totally addicted to BBM. She too was an avid reader. I'm not sure how you can limit screen time when you can't wrestle the gadgets from them and the phone contract gives them an internet connection even when you turn off the router!

louby44 · 15/09/2013 19:44

My DS13 downloaded Instagram onto his ipod, never asked me! Although I have it and am friends with him.

He has a tablet and an old mobile phone (but he wants to get a new swanky one). He's on FB but rarely goes on it. He's not that interested in it all yet but I can slowly see it changing

My 2 DSD have iphones and ipods and they are obsessed with texting/FB/Instagram/Snapchat. Drives us mad! NO conversation!

bakehouse · 16/09/2013 09:32

My two DDs (16 and 14) spend hours texting and on iMessage, Twitter and Instagram, Facebook seems to have fallen out of favour and its only used for the 'chat' facility. DS, just 18, also has it all but doesn't seem too bothered with any of it, is it a girl thing? I always insist no phones or gadgets around the meal table and they all stick to that. We went on holiday in the summer with another family and their two teenagers and their 14 year old girl took it to a whole new level and actually drove me insane as it seemed she never looked up from her phone or spoke to anyone during the entire two weeks!

louby44 · 16/09/2013 19:21

I think it is a girly thing.

1TattooedMummy · 17/09/2013 06:28

If she already has fb she may as well have instagram imo. I limit screen time by taping away dd's phone (with her consent) or switching off the router. Screen time is after homework.as long as you have rules about what is safe/allowable online, and as long as she knows that anything posted online can be copied and used by others...then instagram is only another photo sharing site. You should be pleased she asked.

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