When I was in elementary school, our internet safety training was pretty simple: don't go to online chatrooms and don't give out your personal information. That was before the big social media platforms took off and became a huge part of communicating. Now there's a lot more complexity towards being safe online. If you want to find a story to start a conversation about the effects of social media and online safety, check out one of these new books!
By Elissa Brent Weissman
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 326 pages.
Hadley and Willow are different, but have one major thing in common: both of their moms are influencers who post their daughters on social media for content. Tired of the over-sharing and double lives, they create a private Instagram account @WeAreNOT_Content, where they share the realities of being children of content creators. A great story to talk about the effects of internet fame and children.
By Kate Lumsden
New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2026. Fiction. 218 pages.
When Ruby's brother, Bryce, is accepted into a prestigious charter school, Ruby is also allowed to enroll. The only problem is Ruby doesn't feel like she's smart enough to be with the overachievers at Benton Academy. She finds solace in an anonymous social media account confessionsofamango where she posts about feeling incompetent at her school. The account soon gains a popular following, with others from her school sharing how they also feel like they're not good enough. Discusses how social media can be a place for connection.
By Morgan Baden
New York: Pixel+Ink, 2025. Fiction. 232 pages.
Gus, Sophie, Harper, and Luke are the kids of two sets of parents who are best friends. The four used to be inseparable until they grew apart. One night, when the parents are out and the kids are hanging out together, they spontaneously decide to make a video recreating a popular video game. The video goes viral, but thanks to costumes and masks, their identities remain anonymous. Now they must decide what to do with their new-found fame and how to keep their anonymity. Covers how to protect your identity in the digital age and the consequences of internet fame.
By Jodi Meadows
New York: Holiday House, 2025. Fiction. 264 pages.
Virginia loves that's she's a part of a popular friend group. However, their popularity means that Virginia hides parts of herself: how much she loves the library and her crush on the super unpopular Grayson. Worse than that, she actively participates in their group chat which centers around making fun of people at their school, including Grayson. When Virginia gets in a public fight with the Queen Bee of the group, Virginia finds herself ostracized from the group and the terrible things she's said published on the internet...complete with her name attached to the insults. A good story to discuss safety with online friends, how to deal with cyberbullying, and the importance of keeping your parents informed of what you're doing online.
By Melanie Conklin
New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2024. Fiction. 233 pages.
Sophie's post-pandemic anxiety was eased by the companionship of her best friend, Eve. But Eve took an extended leave from school after Eve "tried to hurt herself. Now that Eve has returned, she's been hanging out with the "Crash Crew," a group of kids who do risky dares for social media. Sophie tries to infiltrate the Crash Crew to get her friend back and find out the truth of Eve's attempted suicide. Adults in the story address the cyber bullying and harassment Sophie experiences.
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