As a school administrator, former teacher and father of four, I am amazed to see how quickly technology has become indispensable to education and family life.

With the increased use of technology, it has become a necessity to ensure families are prepared for the new reality thrust upon us. Teachers and administrators must now consider how to provide instruction to students at a distance while maintaining a safe online environment for students and families.

Since Covid-19 has forced schools to move classes online, the number of American children who spend more than six hours a day in front of a screen has increased by 50%, according to the advocacy group Parents Together.

Some of this screen-time is certain and constructive. There is a growing math trend on video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. Students are turning to video tutorials for help with math problems. TikTok’s mathematics page has more than 166 million views, while their algebra page has 48.5 million.

As this move to home instruction has expanded the reach of social media platforms, efforts must be taken to provide families online protections for their children.

Some online platforms such as TikTok are partnering with organizations such as the National PTA, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Family Online Safety Institute and ConnectSafely to help families provide privacy protection for their children.