What are social norms?

Social norms are the rules that help people know how to behave in certain situations.

Imagine you're at a restaurant with your family. You all sit down, and when it's time to eat, everyone starts eating at the same time, no one waits for anyone else. That’s because there is a social norm about when to start eating. It’s like an invisible agreement that helps everything go smoothly.

Think of social norms like the rules in a game you play with your friends. If you’re playing tag, everyone knows that if someone tags you, you have to run. If no one follows the rules, it's hard to enjoy the game, and it’s confusing for everyone.

Social norms aren’t always the same. When kids grow up, they might change how people behave. For example, in the past, it was normal to wear long skirts every day, now, many people wear jeans or shorts instead.

So, social norms are like invisible rules that help people know what to do, and they can change as time goes on!