Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat … and those are just the major players. New social media platforms are popping up all the time (hello, Threads!). It’s a lot to navigate as an adult much less a kid. And there are some serious implications for both groups. If you’re interested in learning more (or helping the kids in your life get more of the good and less of the bad), check out this round-up of the best books about social media.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Social Media Books for Elementary Kids
Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis
Amazon
In this modern take on Little Red Riding Hood, Chick gets a little carried away with online shopping. But when she arranges to meet up with a friend she’s made online, she discovers all is not as it seems. An important lesson on staying safe online!
Buy it: Chicken Clicking at Amazon
Amazon
Another fairy-tale retelling from Jeanne Willis. Goldilocks’ online videos are hilarious, but in her quest to get more likes, she’s started stealing porridge #pipinghot, breaking chairs #fun, and using someone else’s bed #sleep. What will Daddy Bear do when he sees that online?
Buy it:
Sonia’s Digital World by Shannon McClintock Miller
Amazon
This ISTE Young Innovators book is all about connections. See how Sonia, her friends, and her community chat, create, and play together with digital tools at home, at school, and across the miles.
Buy it: Sonia’s Digital World at Amazon
The Technology Tail by Julia Cook
Amazon
This picture book is a great way for kids to visualize their digital footprint. And when you’re interacting online, it’s super important to understand that some things can’t be erased. Narrator Screen wants kids to know their words will follow them for life.
Buy it: The Technology Tail at Amazon
Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds
Amazon
When Nerdy Birdy joins Tweetster, he gets swept up in all his new friendships and starts ignoring his real-life BFF, Vulture. When Vulture gets angry, Nerdy Birdy figures out how to make it right. A great conversation starter about misreading tone in electronic communication.
Buy it: Nerdy Birdy Tweets at Amazon
First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette by Catherine Pearlman
Amazon
We’re big fans of Wait Until 8th, but for 8-to-12-year-olds who do get a phone, we like this illustrated guide on privacy, social media, and more.
Buy it: First Phone at Amazon
Social Media Books for Middle and High School Kids
Posted by John David Anderson
Amazon
When cell phones are banned at his school, Frost and his friends find a new way to communicate: sticky notes. But for all the nice notes, there are cruel ones as well. A poignant contemporary story about bullying and social media.
Buy it: Posted at Amazon
No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado
Amazon
Max Monroe is Instagram-perfect. The problem is: There is no Max. And when Kat Sanchez (the girl behind Max) goes viral and gets caught, her world comes crashing down. A sensitive and insightful novel.
Buy it: No Filter and Other Lies at Amazon
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Amazon
April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with a mysterious sculpture. When Andy uploads it to YouTube, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. An utterly absorbing book about celebrity and social media.
Buy it: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing at Amazon
Amazon
This YA narrative nonfiction book tells the story of the revelation of a racist social media account that changes everything for a group of high school students. An excellent book about the real-world consequences of online choices.
Buy it: Accountable at Amazon
The Teen’s Guide to Social Media … and Mobile Devices by Jonathan McKee
Amazon
In a book written specifically for teens, Jonathan McKee offers an approach that is challenging but not anti-technology. He has 21 honest tips (Know the app before you snap!) to inform and, hopefully, change the way teens interact on social media. A must-have guide.
Buy it: The Teen’s Guide to Social Media … at Amazon
The Social Media Workbook for Teens by Goali Saedi Bocci
Amazon
This workbook, written by a millennial psychologist and media expert, is a go-to for teens who are stressing over social media. With exercises to develop skills to reduce anxiety, balance screen time, deal with cyberbullies, and more, it’s a great choice.
Buy it: The Social Media Workbook for Teens at Amazon
Social Media Books for Adults
Influenced: by Brian Boxer Wachler
Amazon
Science is proving that our addiction to social media and influencers is having a demonstrable impact on how we think, feel, and perceive. A fascinating read on what happens to our brains each time we engage with social media.
Buy it: Influenced at Amazon
Logged In and Stressed Out by Paula Durlofsky
Amazon
Social media is here to stay. Without demonizing it, author Durlofsky offers information and tools to improve our lives through examining and changing our digital habits.
Buy it: Logged In and Stressed Out at Amazon
Amazon
The dominant force in the lives of girls coming of age in America today is social media. Author Sales interviewed more than 200 girls between the ages of 13 and 19 about their online lives. Required reading about the social norms that govern the lives of our kids.
Buy it: American Girls at Amazon
Social Media Wellness: Helping Tweens and Teens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World by Ana Homayoun
Amazon
What’s a kid to do when the same technology required to do their work is also their biggest distraction? This book provides practical solutions to help students focus and prioritize, improve time management, build empathy, and more. A must for teachers and parents alike.
Buy it: Social Media Wellness at Amazon
Amazon
This one hit close to home. It’s so easy to share every bit of our lives online, but how do we strike a balance between connecting with our communities and respecting our children’s privacy? Author Steinberg shares her insights.
Buy it: Growing Up Shared at Amazon
Amazon
There are a handful of guides like this. We like this one because it focuses on having meaningful conversations with teens about the best and smartest ways to get connected while staying safe.
Buy it: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Social Media at Amazon
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