My mom used to think that LOL meant ‘lots of love.' I know she wasn’t the only one. When we were first texting, she really assumed everyone was SUPER into showing love. Since then, she’s become an emoji pro and FaceTime's and texts with her kids and grandkids all the time. But my mom isn't the only grandparent apt at the newfangled telephone machine. My teenaged children also receive random texts and adorable dog photos from my mother-in-law. The communication makes for an easy, teen-friendly way to stay in touch. It also acts as a solid bridge since we can't always be together. Of course, it's not the same as being in-person — my mother-in-law lives more than eight hours away — but these online moments are important and meaningful. There are many long-standing jokes about grandparents and technology. But let's set aside the notion that all boomers are tech-adverse and instead lean into the fact that they have evolved and, as the kids might say, entered the grandparent chat. Texting might be the gateway, but the soaring popularity of social media has created accessibility and adoption by people of all ages. Facebook and Instagram offer grandparents a way of staying connected with friends and family, including their grandchildren. Which is why some best practices are important before diving in. Keep reading for tips and tricks to being, almost, chronically online.

What to know before diving into social media

Permission, please! There are social media rules to follow and one of them is to ask permission before posting. If the parents (or kids themselves) don’t want you to post a photo or other personal information on social media, respect their wishes. When in doubt, avoid posting anything another person might not want shared—this is a general rule, not just one for grandchildren. Do you really want to post that? Think before you post. Misinformation runs rampant on social media and people of all ages can fall victim to it. Before you post that “fact,” do a double check.

Safety first on social media

When posting your own photos, or if you are given permission to share photos of your family, try to avoid posting anything that includes too much identifying information. Skip posting the photo from the school concert that has your grandchild and their classmates with the school logo behind them. Or, instead of the photo taken in front of the house with the address visible, use one from a location that is less identifiable.

Don’t take rejection personally

You may be tempted to follow your older grandchild’s social media accounts and actively engage with them by liking and commenting on their posts and photos. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, be conscious of boundaries. That might be a space they would prefer to keep reserved for their friends and not have their grandparents actively participating. Consider keeping in touch with your teen via a chat option instead.

Set up a chat method that works for everyone

You may love Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, but find out how your grandchild wants to communicate. Younger kids may have a different method set up by their parents for communicating. With older grandkids, text messaging may be the easiest way. Unlike a phone call, texting allows you all to stay in touch when it’s convenient for your own schedules. They’re busy, you’re busy—text works for the in-between moments. These small, quick connections can really help to bridge the time between visits and build the grandparent-grandchild bond. The next time you get together you can ask about things in more detail. Occasionally, your message will be read but without a reply. That’s okay — no need to worry or take offence.

Leverage social media trends as conversation starters

One of the benefits of using social media is that you are more likely to see trends, viral content, memes and pop culture moments that will resonate with the younger generation. This allows you to be in the know when a topic comes up with your grandkids. You may just want them to explain a trend, and that’s totally fine. But it feels pretty good when you can bring them news of what you saw online. Did you hear? Pluto has moved into Aquarius! Time for rebirth! Now that you know the basics of social media, go forth and… as the kids once again say, SLAY!