From ‘vVaddy daddy’ to fake TikToks: how to guide your child through Ukraine news online

Much of what tweens and teenagers know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict comes from TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram. Their social media feeds contain images of tanks, bombs and propaganda. Our kids could stumble across extreme footage and we’ll likely never know. They will also have seen spam and memes about “Vladdy daddy” – the nickname of Russian president Vladimir Putin – pleading with him to avert war. Here’s how to help your child navigate social media “news” content about war, while minimising any distress.