Children of today are more conscious than ever of social media. They are constantly using social media platforms to browse videos, read articles, and to stay connected with their pals.
Nowadays, social media is increasingly appealing to kids, thanks to quicker networks, easier access to apps and online services, and the widespread use of gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Adults who require these services to be active for business and leisure will benefit from this.
But one should consider whether kids actually require social media. Is virtual socialising actually beneficial for them? Do they understand the dangers?
These questions may have different answers based on who you ask. While some believe children should only have limited access to social media, others believe children should have unfettered use, while still others believe children should never use social media.
Social media does, in fact, have advantages and disadvantages, and the dangers greatly exceed the advantages. Cyberbullying, information sharing online, and caving to peer pressure are just a few ways that a child’s usage or abuse of social media may become a severe nightmare for both the parent and the child.
The following are 9 tips to keep your child safe from social media:
Educate your child of social media
Children adore social media, and they are already familiar with the most well-known sites and apps. The majority of a child’s non-academic day is spent on their phone, whether it be watching a cartoon, perusing Facebook and Instagram, conversing on WhatsApp, or using other websites and apps. Today, every child has access to a smartphone. If you see that your kid is immersed in social media, your first job is to warn them about the risks of doing so. Inform them that using social media at this age could harm their academic performance. Second, you need to warn them about the difficulties they can have if they don’t limit their use of social media.
Set an age limit
The majority of social media platforms impose an upper age limit for membership. Most social media platforms demand that users create accounts with a minimum age of 13 without their parents’ permission. Some websites, such as YouTube, now include a section for kids called YouTube Kids wherein they solely feature content geared for kids.
You should take control of your child’s social media account if they have one or if they are currently using it to keep an eye on their activity. Additionally, you need to be mindful about updating their privacy settings. If your kids object to the violation of their privacy, make it very clear to them that having their account on social media monitored is in their best interests. Children don’t understand the risks that exist in the world and would gladly accept friendship offers from anyone without questioning if they are right or wrong.
Ask them to keep their profile private
Most media websites provide users the choice to make their accounts private. To ensure that only friends may view the stuff your child posts, make their account private. This important step will guarantee that their content is private and that any misuse is avoided.
Refrain them from sharing personal details
Your child must not be allowed to share any private information on any social networking platform, including images, phone numbers, home and school addresses, and check-ins. These could be abused by someone with malicious intentions, harming your child.
Ask them to set a strong password
You must make a really strong password using an alphanumeric combination because it’s simple for crooks to hack into an account. You and your kid must, however, keep the password in mind.
Tell them to not accept friends requests from anyone
Children enjoy making friends with new people, and thieves take advantage of this weakness. Your child should not accept friendship offers from strangers. A stranger is exactly that: a stranger, and your child should not add anyone as a friend unless they are unfamiliar with them.
Tell them not to post anything
It’s simple for a kid to publish a video or photo, and it’s simple for bullies to pick on your kid. Therefore, it is best to advise your youngster not to post everything. Although children like sharing films and images and do so with the best of intentions, there is a chance that their pals or just about anyone else could find the content offensive and bully the child. Bullying occasionally has unpleasant side effects. In fact, you need to sit down with them and discuss the kinds of photos that should be displayed.
Establish rules for social media use
Establish clear guidelines for when and how they can interact socially. Every evening, an hour or so should be plenty, and the less, the better. Second, you need to look over their chat history to make sure that no inappropriate conversations are taking place. When parents are there, remind them to use social media, not to hide behind them. Inform them that failing to use social media could result in having their phone taken away or their account being permanently cancelled.
Age restrictions for popular children networking and social media services, as well as some additional details. Note that only apps and websites that are well-known in India are included in this list.
Thousands of incidents of criminals preying on trusting kids have been reported, and despite all of our efforts, kids still become victims. Criminals typically leave no evidence of their criminal operations because they are always cunning, proactive, and one step ahead. You can guarantee that your child is secure in the social sphere by doing the following actions.