Five Tips Offered for Parents Worried About Kids' Screen Time and Online Safety

Parental monitoring can help protect children from the harms of excessive social media use and screen time, according to a report from NPR outlining tips for concerned parents.

The report said setting screen time boundaries alongside early and open conversations about online habits can make children less vulnerable to risks associated with social media use.

NPR's report did not list all five tips in the excerpt available, though it emphasized monitoring, boundary-setting, and communication as key elements of a broader approach to online safety.

Concerns about children's social media use have grown in recent years, with researchers and advocacy groups citing links between heavy use and issues such as anxiety, disrupted sleep, and exposure to harmful content.

The report did not specify at what age parents should begin implementing screen time limits or how to adapt monitoring approaches as children get older.