*This is a collaborative post.
In today’s day and age, technology is found in every household with almost every member having their own device. Social media has also followed in its footsteps with it being a popular form of interaction with friends and strangers alike. Most teenagers will have access to some form of social media to keep up to date with friends and new trends. They use these sites for up to hours a day and have access to many things that may not be age-appropriate. Social media has its perks but there are also many risks when it comes to it. Here are some ways to teach your child to use social media properly.
Social media is great when it comes to staying connected with family and friends, researching new topics and enhancing creativity through art and music. It is also a great way to instantly connect with programmes that offer help when it comes to GCSEs and A levels. However, when used in the wrong way, it can become a hub for cyberbullying and other inappropriate activities. Many teens online will use their real name and post photos of themselves whilst revealing locations of where they live. This can make them easy targets for predators. A common way young people gain access to websites that aren’t appropriate for their age is by lying about their age, which is a direct door to exposing themselves to people who may mean harm.
So, what can parents do?
Be nice when you approach your child about it.
Make it clear that they should never be horrible or bully anyone online even if they are feeling threatened. Being respectful is something your child needs to keep up, even if they are communicating behind a screen which can be a source of confidence for some.
Tell them to think twice.
Uploading can be done on impulse, especially on platforms where posts disappear after 24 hours. Tell your child to be careful with who can see their location and posting home addresses. Exposing times that the house is empty is also dangerous as it is an opening for potential robbers to strike.
Create a Profile That’s Safe For Kids
A profile is a public representation of oneself on the internet. It’s important to be mindful of what information your child shares on their profile.
You have to be realistic, children need online profiles for many reasons such as gaming, resources for learning, network services and much more.
Helping your child to set up an online profile will allow them to get the most out of internet services whilst being safe doing so.
Use privacy settings.
Most teens focus on how many views, likes and followers they have which is why they keep their profiles public. Explain that their safety is more valuable than the amount of people that follow them and they should be careful with befriending any strangers no matter how nice they may seem. Passwords should be secure and not shared with anyone, not even friends or partners.
Social media is something that you won’t be able to keep your child off so putting down rules will ensure your child uses it safely.
You may also like these posts – Essential Ways To Keep Your Child Safe Online, Kids Spending Too Much Time Online and Fun Computer Skills To Teach Children.
This is so important. My eldest is starting secondary school next month and I’ve had a chat with her all about dealing with social media in preparation.
I have had many arguments with my girls about how they use social media. My eldest has learned from her mistakes and my youngest is still learning despite me keeping a close eye on her.
My kids are still young but this is so important to teach them.
Some great tips, so important that they are safe online
Great article. Such a different world to when I was a child.