My social media story started way back in the MSN Messenger days. I can still remember rushing home from school and logging on to chat with friends that I had just been with all day, it felt like texting before texting was even a thing. Over the years, my online life has shifted to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest.

Now, as a mom of two, I find myself using these platforms for more practical reasons.With my family living 14 hours north in Chetwynd, B.C., and my in-laws all the way in Australia and New Zealand, social media helps bridge the distance. I especially like Snapchat for quick updates. Instead of sending the same photos or videos in ten different group chats, I can share them once and reach everyone instantly. And honestly, I’m a huge fan of Facebook Marketplace. I try to buy used whenever possible and being able to browse items for sale within a 200 km plus radius is a game-changer for saving money and reducing waste.

But here’s the thing: my relationship with social media is complicated. On one hand, it connects me to people I love. On the other hand, I see its darker side, especially through the lens of being a mom and a future teacher.

Social media is incredibly addictive. According to Made in CA, Canadians spend just under two hours a day on it. That doesn’t sound like much until you compare it to the rest of the day. Kids spend about six hours at school, then one to two hours at after-school activities. Add two hours of social media on top of that, and suddenly family time is getting pushed out.

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

Even more worrying are the risks kids face online. A report from Statistics Canada shows that 1 in 4 youth aged 12–17 reported being cyberbullied in 2022. As a mom, that number terrifies me. It means my children have a very real chance of being exposed to harmful behavior online. And what makes it scarier is how easy it is for kids to not only be victims but also become bullies themselves. At their age, they don’t fully understand the weight of what they post or share, yet the consequences can last a lifetime.

So, where does that leave me? Social media isn’t going anywhere, and I don’t want to raise my kids in fear of it. Instead, my job, as both a mom and future educator, is to model healthy habits and help them build the tools they need to navigate online spaces responsibly.

For me, that means keeping open communication about what they see and do online. It means setting boundaries around screen time and emphasizing the importance of empathy, kindness, and respect; values that should guide their behavior both online and off. It also means making family time intentional, so screens don’t replace face-to-face connection.

Photo by Niklas Ohlrogge (niamoh.de) on Unsplash

At the same time, I’m trying to practice what I preach. Balancing my studies, parenting, and the temptation to scroll isn’t easy. But I’ve realized that social media can be either a tool or a trap. Used well, it keeps me connected, helps me save money, and makes life more convenient. Used poorly, it steals my time and distracts me from what matters most.

In the end, I hope that my kids grow up seeing social media as just one small piece of their lives, not the whole picture. And as their mom, it’s on me to help set that example.