Get Started with the Social Media Driver’s License
The essential first step before giving your child a smartphone. It teaches kids how to be safe and smart on social media while giving you the tools to guide them — no matter what new trend or tech comes along.
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Built for your family, no matter what road you’re on
The Social Media Driver’s License is for you if…
… your kid has a phone and you want to feel less anxious about how they’re using it.
… you’re waiting to give your kid a phone and want to make sure they’re ready when it’s time.
… you’re drowning in advice from every direction and want guidance that actually works for your family.
… you know the internet has risks, but also that banning everything isn’t the solution.
It’s digital parenting — without the panic.
Powered by experts
Designed by a media literacy educator with two decades of experience, created and vetted by experts, and tested by parents and teens.
Made for busy parents
The companion audio course for parents breaks down complex concepts and tools into short, actionable episodes you can listen to on the go.
Teaches skills, not apps
Slang- and trend-free, the program teaches your child how to be safe and smart online in a way that will stick, no matter which app or site they’re using.
You’re not alone…
2/3 of parents admit to feeling overwhelmed by their children’s tech-centered lives.
45% of U.S. teens feel they spend too much time on social media.
48% of teens say social media harms people their age.
From “Parenting Children in the Age of Screens” (2020) and “Teens, Social Media and Mental Health” (2025), Pew Research Center.
The Social Media Driver’s License is exactly what kids and parents need to cut through the noise of social media.
Jennifer K., Parent
How it works
Built to be flexible and realistic for your family, the Social Media Driver’s License has two tracks – one for you and one for your child – so that you’re able to guide them as they take the course and embark on their social media journey.
For Kids
Here’s what’s included:
10 fun, video-based sessions that teach real-world digital life skills
Varied learning methods include interactive videos to hold attention, scenario-based quizzes, and reflection activities
Relatable, older teens guide learning, not droning “talking heads”
Rewarding curriculum leads to earning their Social Media Driver’s License
Kids will learn about:
The downsides of comparing yourself to others
Knowing when to find mental health support
Staying safe without being afraid
Handling texting-related conflict
Developing your own healthy digital habits as a life skill
Seeing through addictive design
Resisting the power of advertising
…and much more.
For Parents
Here’s what’s included:
8 short, podcast-style sessions that follow the essential topics your child is learning
Real talk from parents with concerns just like yours, sharing what’s worked for them through conversations with subject-matter experts
Opportunities to see your child’s progress through the course so you know when (and how) to broach key topics
Parents will learn about:
What your kids are learning in their course — from a parent’s perspective
Conversation starters for effective tech-related talks with kids and teens
Methods for supporting your maturing kids’ tech use, instead of monitoring them
New insights from parents and experts you need for raising balanced and healthy teens
…and much more.
Both tracks are completely self-paced.
Developed by an experienced media literacy educator
I’m Jennifer Berger, the creator of the Social Media Driver’s License. For the last two decades, I taught tweens and teens to question media messages, reached more than 10,000 teens in their classrooms, and ran an effective, impactful organization that challenged advertising before Instagram even existed. I’ve spent my career helping young people learn how to be part of the digital world without getting consumed by it.
After seeing enough of the mounting teen mental health crisis, the sheer overwhelm of teachers and parents, and no solutions in sight, I created the Social Media Driver’s License — a clear, do-able, and supportive program to get parents, caregivers, kids, and teens ready for smartphones and social media.
Of all the curriculum I’ve reviewed, this is a major contender for long-term, comprehensive impact.
Andrea Gambino, PhD
Sign up for The Social Media Driver’s License
What you get:
5-6 hours of instruction for kids/teens (equivalent to a day-long program, but self-paced)
8-episode Parent Companion audio course
Exclusive Trusted Adults Guide with conversation starters for each session
Parent demo version of Kid/Teen Course
Pricing for households in need is available.
One-Time Payment
$29
Frequently Asked Questions
The Social Media Driver’s License is for families with kids who are on the brink of getting a phone or jumping into social media. Whether your kid is begging for the latest app or just getting their first device, this program gives you a roadmap, a common language, and the tools to make sure they’re ready — and that you are too.
Has your kid been begging for more tech? Now you can say: “I’ll be comfortable getting you a phone or letting you use social media when you get your Social Media Driver’s License.”
The course tracks each learner’s progress separately, so only one kid can be on an account with their parent/caregiver. Please sign up and register with two different email addresses for two different kids/teens. And talk with us if you work with a group!
Starting the Social Media Driver’s License course is a great way to find out. It will help them understand what social media is and what it’s like to have a smartphone, before they log in, without prematurely introducing them to more grown-up concepts. It equips kids with essential skills — like how to spot red flags, handle tricky situations, and build healthy habits so they can use social media safely and responsibly when the time comes.
Yes — our guides give your child light-touch advice on how to recognize red flags or prevent these problems without stoking fear. Then, we let you take the lead on the bigger conversations, which we prepare you for in our Parent Companion Audio Course.