Facebook and Instagram, together with the e-Enfance Association, the Génération Numérique Association and the UNAF, are launching the Connected Parents Club, an initiative to support parents with all digital issues.
Conceived and launched with associations e-Childhood, Digital Generation and the UNAF, The mission of the “Connected Parents Club” is to answer questions that parents have about their children's use of digital tools and issues (social media, video games, time spent online, etc.), with:
- A Facebook group accessible to all, administered and moderated by experts from different backgrounds who have come together to support parents. It is designed as a place for direct, open discussion between parents, associations and experts, where they can ask any questions they may have about everyday life, share experiences and gather advice. In this group, parents will find Educational video resources for learning the basics of digital technology, featuring testimonials from experts, parents and teenagers alike.
- The launch of the website «Online and Secure» bringing together resources from partners, practical guides created by Facebook and Instagram, tutorials and other practical advice on digital technology specifically for parents.
- In addition, the launch of a new type of «Education/Parent» groups» within the Groups feature on Facebook designed for parents, offering new features to more easily share their personal journeys, easily identify content that is important to them, and seek or share advice with others.
One thing is clear: parents need help and support when it comes to digital technology.
In recent years, and particularly since the lockdown last March, French people have increasingly used social media to stay in touch with family, catch up with loved ones, and keep up to date with the things that matter to them. According to a recent study conducted by Ipsos for Facebook between 21 October and 4 November 2019:
- 89% children aged 7 to 12 now have access to a smartphone or tablet. 62% also have their own equipment, with 53% of them using it on a daily basis.
- However, while an entire generation seems to have adapted to these new practices, their parents sometimes still feel ill-equipped to support their children in this new virtual reality. 83% of parents would like to monitor and supervise their children's online experience more closely.
For Justine Atlan, Chief Executive Officer of the e-Enfance Association : “With lockdown, digital technology has become a permanent fixture in our homes and our daily lives. Our Net Ecoute helpline saw a 301% increase in calls during lockdown, mainly due to teenagers left to their own devices on social media. Parents do not always have the tools they need to support their children and express a need to better understand their practices and the issues at stake. The Connected Parents Club is a useful initiative that is part of our daily work to educate children about digital citizenship from an early age.”
For Cyril Di Palma, Chief Executive Officer of the Génération Numérique association “Génération Numérique welcomes the initiative of the Club des Parents Connectés. It is indeed crucial to bring together stakeholders in education within a single digital space dedicated to parenting, in order to support parents in all the fundamental digital issues they face, give them the keys to dialogue with their children, and enable them to share with their peers. This initiative is at the heart of the Génération Numérique project. It is only by working together, with private and institutional stakeholders and educators, that we will be able to meet this major challenge for future generations.“
The Connected Parents Club, a Facebook group and dedicated website to help parents
Facebook groups meet parents' needs: they are more 2 million in France already belong to Facebook groups where parents seek inspiration on how to guide their children – out of 28 million Facebook group members in France – a phenomenon that has grown during lockdown, with more than 700,000 new registrations on Facebook parent groups.
With the Facebook group of the Club, parents will be able to discover resources and advice from associations and experts every day. Within this group, parents will be able to talk to experts, ask questions and take part in «virtual coffee breaks» with Facebook teams and leading associations to share friendly moments with other parents.
“This club, made up of experts and associations specialising in digital uses, aims to support parents facing changes related to digital tools. Facebook wants to give them the keys to understanding how these tools work so that they can better support their children. I am a mother of four myself, and support and discussion groups are an essential source of sharing and inspiration for me.” according to Michelle Gilbert, Head of Communications for Facebook in France and Southern Europe.
Facebook is also launching the new website «Online and Secure», which provides parents and educators with numerous resources, guides, and videos to facilitate conversations with children on the following topics: foundations, well-being, engagement, autonomy, and opportunities surrounding digital technology.
For Olivier Gérard from Unaf: “LFamilies are at the heart of the digital revolution. The widespread use of screens and digital tools within families influences daily life and family relationships, and has therefore become a major issue in parenting support. That is why, in addition to the «My child and screens» website and our various digital parenting initiatives, joining the Connected Parents Club initiative is a great opportunity for UNAF to provide parents with broader support on digital issues, especially in the current context.”
The Connected Parents Club, experts at the service of parents
With this Club, parents will be able to discover numerous resources, including video interviews with experts and associations. Among the guests for this first edition dedicated to online bullying:
- Justine Atlan, Chief Executive Officer of the Association e-Childhood, a leading association in the protection of minors on the Internet, which has been offering workshops for 15 years to raise awareness of the proper use of the Internet and all the risks of cyberviolence. Approved by the Ministry of National Education, it works in schools with children and teenagers and offers training to parents and all professionals. An official partner of the Ministry of National Education since 2011 in the prevention and fight against cyberbullying, it operates the national toll-free number 3018 to provide advice and assistance to young victims and parents.
- Olivier Barbin, founder of the community I am Dad, a community run by parents for parents, where you can find lots of tips on how to make everyday parenting easier.
- Olivier Gérard, the cluster coordinator «Media and digital uses» by the National Union of Family Associations (UNAF)), An institution committed to families since 1945, it is an expert on the realities of family life. Recognised as being of general interest, it is the official spokesperson for families in dealings with public authorities.
- Jennifer Hanna, also known as @jen_hnna on Instagram is 19 years old and lives in Paris. After obtaining her baccalaureate, Jennifer decided to take a gap year to discover herself and choose her future career path. Jennifer is very committed to the subject of online wellbeing: she has notably produced an IGTV video on self-confidence in order to initiate a constructive discussion and provide guidance to its community.
- Michelle Gilbert, Head of Communications for Facebook in France and Southern Europe to discover the resources available to parents: and mother of four children, including three teenagers. She is in daily contact with committed stakeholders, such as child protection organisations, teachers, French and international experts, sociologists and parents.
Facebook Groups – Over 2 million French people are members of active parent groups on Facebook.
In addition to launching the Connected Parents Club, Facebook is rolling out a new group format named «Education/Parent» to assist parents who are already discussing digital parenting in existing Facebook groups with new features including:
- A feature for sharing a post anonymously to enable members of a parents' group to post sensitive messages without revealing their identity.
- We are adding new badges to parent groups, so that members can choose to identify themselves to other members of the group based on the stage they are at in their parenting journey.
- A mentoring feature : Parent group administrators can now select and create an online mentoring programme.
