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Social Media tips for kids

Social Media apps are being used more frequently by pre-teens. Many of our own Primary School students admitted to using them as a place to stay in touch with their friends and express their individuality.

Most parents are aware of the well-documented dangers that come with unfiltered access to these applications, however, there are other more subtle, inherent problems that can also arise.

Parents need to be acutely aware of the addictive nature of social media. These are products that have been deliberately designed to consume our attention so that portions of our personal data can be sold. We also need to consciously warn our children about the dangers of judging themselves against the carefully curated portrayal of life shown on social media, as this can lead to feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

To help mediate these and other issues associated with social media usage, open and honest communication between parents and their children, though difficult, is essential.

1. Are they ready for Social Media? Talk about peer pressure. Most social media apps have a minimum age rating of 13. If a social network has set an age limit it means that some of the content may not be suitable for a younger child.

2. How much time are they spending on social Media? Talk together so they understand your concerns. Agree on house rules – when, how long, and where they can go online and which apps they can use.

3. How much personal information have they posted? Talk to them about whom they’ve shared the information with and assess the risk it poses to your child. You can also ask your child to remove the information from their account and help them understand how to share safely.

4. Have they been affected by the content shared? Encourage them to think about why friends/celebrities may share certain posts. Show them how to challenge what they see as ‘reality’. Remind them they can always talk to you about things happening online.

5. Are they sharing appropriate selfies? Discuss the reasons why they feel the need to share images and the potential long-term impact pictures shared could have.

Thank you to our IT Integrator Mrs Nivison for these handy tips! Click here to find out more about Technology at Cannons.