DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m going into high school now, and my parents still won’t let me have my own social media account: no TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter or Instagram. They think it’s bad for me and unsafe. Although I agree in some respects, I feel like I’m getting old enough that I should be able to have social media and act responsibly. Every time I try to approach the topic with my parents, they shut it down. How do I open the dialogue? -- Social Media Toxicity
DEAR SOCIAL MEDIA TOXICITY: Point out to your parents that as you are growing up, you want and need to know what your peers are doing. Right now, you feel like an outsider. You also understand that your parents are concerned about you becoming obsessed or harmed by content on social media. Tell them that you need to learn how to manage all of that information. Ask them again if you can get accounts as long as you promise to let them see what you are seeing and limit your time engaging them. Suggest that they get their own accounts so that they can see for themselves what other kids are saying and doing.