As children grow and mature into adolescents and young adults, they may begin to seek companionship and get into their first relationships.
Romantic relationships play a major role in teens’ social lives, and it’s a time of significant social and emotional growth.
And like it or not – social and digital media facilitate and change these relationships.
We’ve heard about things like cyberbullying and sexting, but research shows that the digital realm is part of a much broader universe in which teens meet, date and break up with romantic partners, which can open the door to some problems without them even realizing it.x
While some behavior can merely be annoying, how do we teach our teens what’s acceptable and what’s not when they are in a relationship and when they get out of a relationship?
Elisheba Barnard is the seventh grade counselor for Monaco Middle School.
She told KNPR's State of Nevada that she has students in her office all the time asking about issues ranging from relationships to same-sex attraction to consent in sexual relationships.
She said those questions are made more complicated by social media and around-the-clock access to mobile devices.
"You can stay in contact in a number of ways," Barnard explained.
She said many kids do not realize when they're being aggressive in a relationship and others can't express when they're being victimized.
She said it is important for parents to talk to kids about what a 'real' friendship looks like and what a 'real' relationship looks like.
Katherine Moldovan is the director of Hope Counseling Services.
She believes parents have responsibility to know who is calling their children's cell phones and who their children are contacting.
"It's not about micro-managing your child," she said, "It's about loving your child and protecting your child."
She also said that parents need to take the time to sit down and talk with their children about what is going on their lives and at school. Moldovan believes keeping the lines of communication open can help parents help their children navigate their first relationships.
Elisheba Barnard, 7th grade counselor, Monaco Middle School; Katherine Moldovan, director, Hope Counseling Services