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Social media

For the grown-up beside a child who loves social media.

The child's own door is Social media on Spark & Anvil.

The sideline card

Three numbers to notice

  1. Most posts are seen by a few people, and a few posts are seen by a great many.
  2. On average, most people’s friends have more friends than they do, because people with many friends turn up in many friend lists.
  3. Trending means many people at once, not most people.

On the way home, ask: “Who do you think decides what shows up first?”

Ask because you are curious, and let any answer stand. Print this page for a half-page card.

Understand it

A short course for you

Where it came from

A little history, and what nobody knows

Your friends’ friends

The sociologist Scott Feld described the friendship paradox in 1991: on average, people’s friends have more friends than they do.

How much it shapes the way people feel online is not settled.

Source: Friendship paradox (Wikipedia)

Your child's ladder · on Spark & Anvil

The same idea at every age

  1. Ages 3–5Not made yet
  2. Ages 6–8Pass It On
  3. Ages 9–14Not made yet
  4. Ages 15–18Why Your Friends Have More Friends

Your child will meet this idea again at every age. The tools and courses here are the part for you.