Exclusion in the digital space is often less visible to the adults, but it’s just as painful.
Studies show that in almost every class, there are children who aren’t included in the class’ social media groups. It helps to be aware of what this can look like. Exclusion can happen in several ways:
- The child isn’t invited to group chats with classmates or friends.
- They aren’t tagged in photos or posts.
- Their posts or pictures receive no likes or comments.
- They see photos of peers hanging out without being invited.
- Through location services, they see their friends together without prior knowledge.
- Their messages are ignored in group chats.
These subtle forms of exclusion can deeply affect a child’s sense of belonging and connection.
How can I help?
It is so important to show interest in and talk with your child about the various digital groups they’re part of. Regular discussions can help them handle feeling left out or excluded and get help when needed.
- Always take their online experiences seriously and don’t dismiss them.
- Let them know that if they encounter problems, they’re not alone. Help is always available and they should feel ok speaking up.
- Discuss who they feel most comfortable going to - whether it’s parents, older siblings, teachers, or other trusted adults.
- Talk about strategies for how to constructively confront the situation, look at it with a different perspective using empathy or help them take steps to get out of a difficult situation when needed.
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By staying attentive, interested, and fostering open conversations, we can help ensure that our children don’t sit alone with their feelings of exclusion. We want to make sure they know who to talk to, what to do when they feel bad, as well as help them foster and look to be a part of more inclusive digital spaces.
