The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital recommends researching and talking about the lyrics of the songs your children and teens like to listen to. These songs can be from streaming services or can be in the background on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. They share some tips:
- Review the lyrics to your child’s favorite songs. Lyrics sites such as Lyrics.com will allow you to understand the content of the music.
- If you are uncomfortable with any of the lyrics, consider purchasing the edited or clean version of a song (if one exists), as opposed to the explicit version.
- Help your children become media literate by talking about the messages contained in the lyrics of songs. For instance, talk about how women are being portrayed. Ask them to think about the kinds of bodies they hear described, the way that women are supposed to act according to the song, and how these lyrics make them feel.
Find out more about the risks, benefits, and healthy use of streaming music at the Digital Wellness Lab.