Sons Instagram posts

[Fabulousdahlink]

Hi. Some of my 15 yo sons instagram posts are 'off' I dont like what he posts sometimes...but get he's expressing and exploring things. Recently there have been a couple 'funny/edgy' memes about mothers pretending to sacrifice everything for their kids ( ouch that hurt) and some not funny memes about Jews.
He's been raised in an open communication and respectful of others way. I dont like whats posted. Best advice to deal with it?
Gut is to speak with him privately and say that 1) what I saw was hurtful and 2) other people will judge him for this 'off ' comments on particular groups of people.
He's certainly had no support from me for making comments about religious community...he's been raised in a 'tolerant of all ' family.

Should I ignore his posts as just teenage nonsense?

Make a passing comment I've seen them and didnt like them/ was hurt and/or offended by them.

Full intervention with sanctions- pinch this hard in the bud?

He’s making antisemitic posts on social media? That’s very serious IMO. I would leave the stuff about parents, that’s within normal for teenagers. Being racist certainly isn’t and needs severe sanctions and to understand where he is being influenced to think like that.

I agree...not a clue where the anti jewish sentiment is coming from. Def. Not in our home. Boyfriend of 1yr. Father is jewish ( so bf isnt...he's actually an atheist) son gets on well with bf. Son has no reason to post that garbage. Thanks for your post...it has refocussed my thinking.

I dont want to overthink this...but wont tolerate antisemitic ( or any other sort of ) behaviour.

Full intervention with sanctions. Everything you write on social media remains - and this is what his future employers will travel through

I'd tell him that if he wouldn't want his grandma/ head teacher / Jewish neighbour/ whatever to read it, then he shouldn't be writing it.

If this was my son I'd be telling him that this was his final warning - he deletes all the stuff that is disrespectful and hateful or he loses his social media accounts

Time for a history lesson about antisematism. Show him some of the most distressing holocaust documentaries and he will hopefully realise the error of his ways.

The parents thing is just teen shot, but anti Semitic stuff needs calling out NOW. He has studied ww2, it’s in the national curriculum. Teens think their parents know nothing, so go online for some source material about persecution of the Jews. He needs to feel shocked.

He needs to delete the anti Semitic posts ASAP and you need to speak to him about how serious the consequences can be posting things like that on social media for everybody to see.

I would be monitoring his SM pages also

I have a DS around this age we have discussed this event

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/exeter-university-law-society-leaders-12220715.amp

The young men in question described this as "edgy banter" it's shocked my DS and he is mindful of anything he posts. You need to express your understanding of how this can be interpreted

Thanks for all your posts. Son is a history student. He's seen and studied and is repulsed.He"s certainly not a holocaust denier in any way.
I think it is less that he beleives in an anti semitic agenda...I think it is more poor and immature 'edgy banter' which could and has offended people and might well have a negative effect on his life he has not considered..teenagers do make huge mistakes in life. He will certainly understand the magnitude of this one. I am glad I'm dealing with it today in a calm clear way. Yesterday I was furious, disappointed, worried about influences..today I'm in a much better place to deal with it. Thanks to all who posted for your contributions. Helped me to process x

Thanks for raising it. My DS 14 & 15 have both been sent the useful link above.

If you have seen the messages then at least you are able to offer some advice. Most parents have no clue what their kids post. Most kids have at least 2 Insta accounts and only share the 'clean' one with parents.

It's a minefield.