Parenting during the coronavirus is tough. For the majority of children in the UK, Friday was the last day of school for the foreseeable future.
Inevitably, this period of increased isolation will lead to a rise in digital interaction, particularly social media usage, as both children and adults stay in touch with their peers.
In today’s blog post we’ll be sharing our top tips to help you keep your children safe on social media during these uncertain times.
Social media usage amongst children: the facts
Today, there are more children active on social media than ever before:
- 70% of children aged 12 to 15 have at least one social account
- 5% of underage children (5 to 7 years old) have a social media account – despite minimum age limits being set by most social media providers
- 78% of teenagers feel pressure to “look popular” on social media
- 35% of 12 to 15 year olds find it difficult to moderate their screen time
- 71% of ‘older’ children are allowed to take their mobile phone to bed
Whilst social media has its benefits, it also poses many risks. From cyberbullying, oversharing and giving into peer pressure, misuse of social media can easily turn into a serious problem for your children. In today’s current climate, with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, it’s even more problematic. Children are being exposed to more information than ever before, both highly emotive and some inaccurate, which may cause stress and panic in these uncertain times.
Today, more than ever, it’s crucial that you know how to keep your children safe on social media.
Top Tips
Educate yourself
Familiarise yourself with popular social platforms. This will give you a better understanding of how each channel works and what your children will likely be doing on each channel. Top tip: download and create your own profile so you can experience the channel first-hand.
Here’s a list of popular social networks your children are likely to be using:
- TikTok – did you know? – last year, TikTok overtook Facebook to become the world’s second most downloaded app, with only WhatsApp standing in its way!
- Snapchat
- YouTube
- Tumblr
Set boundaries and agree rules
Age limit: if you don’t currently allow your children to use social media, it’s a good idea to let them know when they’ll be able to sign up to different websites. Top tip: most networks require children to be 13 or older to set up an account.
Allocated time: make it clear how much time they’re allowed to spend online (daily, weekly) and the time of day that they are permitted to go online (for example, only after finishing their homework, or only at the weekends).
Channels: restrict the websites that they are permitted to visit and the activities they can participate in whilst online. Top tip: if you have a child that enjoys playing games online be sure to check the age rating of any and all games.
Explain the dangers of social media
Children rarely consider the potential dangers and consequences of social media; they tend to underestimate how easily accessible their information is, and can forget that others may be watching their activity.
Communicating and sharing real-life stories will help your children to think twice before oversharing online. Top tip: be sure to encourage your children to come to you with any problems they may have.
Keep their computer visible
Ensure the computer is centralised and kept in an open location in your house. This way, you can easily keep an eye on your child’s social media usage. Children are less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior when they know their parents can look over their shoulder at any time.
Keep their profile private
Most social sites provide the option to make your account private . Make sure you’ve checked that your children’s settings are all set to private.
And, continue to check their privacy settings regularly
Social networks are constantly updating and changing their sites and apps to ensure maximum protection is available, but often they will need to be updated manually by the user. Ensure you’re regularly checking your children’s privacy settings.
Ensure they’re not posting personal details
Make sure your children understand what kind of information shouldn’t be shared and why. For example, phone numbers, addresses and check-ins.
It’s never been more important to monitor your children’s social media usage and keep them safe on social media.
The following resources will help you to navigate through these unprecedented times:
NSPCC – It can be hard to know how to talk to your child about online safety. From setting up parental controls to advice on sexting, online games and video apps, NSPCC can help you to understand the risks and keep your child safe. Click here for further information.
Thinkuknow – Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP, a UK organisation which protects children both online and offline. Click here for further information
We’d love to hear your thoughts
Do you let your child use social media? Do you keep an eye on what they are creating and watching? Do you have any concerns about any of the channels they’re using? What tips do you follow to keep them safe? Let us know in the comments section below.
Contact us
Our team can provide Personal Safety on Social Media talks for school governors and teachers. We also offer bespoke Personal Safety sessions to 6th-form pupils preparing to leave school and start university.