Social media is a great tool for staying connected with friends and family, but it also has its dangers that both parents and children should be made aware of. Cyberbullying, hacking, privacy concerns and stranger danger are just a few. We’ve teamed up with a school to share some tips on internet safety and teaching children to use social media responsibly.
Sharing
It’s easier than ever to keep up to date with friends and family and share what you’ve been up to. Also, now with the emergence of influencers, it can be tempting for children to take up the hobby and post to a larger audience. While it may seem cool, it puts children at risk of having their pictures stolen. Identity theft is more common than you would think and is something that children can protect themselves against by maintaining a high level of privacy online.
Stranger Danger
Not everyone is who they say they are online. Unfortunately, it’s easy to lie and hide behind fake profiles which makes who your child accepts and talks to on social media all the more important to keep an eye on. While it might be an uncool thing to do, having them on social media can help you to make sure of this. They should also be advised against adding anyone that they don’t know personally and arranging to meet them in real life.
Cyberbullying
Maintaining a low profile and only adding those who they know can reduce the chance of cyberbullying. Bullying is awful, especially when online as there’s no real escape for children to hide from the abuse. What’s worse is that it can all be done behind fake profiles, or “troll accounts”. If your child is experiencing something of a similar nature, there is help available. Teachers and authorities can be made aware as well as the platforms themselves. They can use their settings to block abusive messages and continue to use social media as normal.
Screentime and self-esteem issues
We can be our own worst enemies and the length of time that we spend on social media can be harmful for our mental health. For children in particular, spending 3 or more hours on social media can significantly increase their risk of developing depression, anxiety and body image issues. A lot of what they see online isn’t real.
There are filters, airbrushing tools, and a lot more than we’re even aware of that goes behind a post. It can create a false sense of reality which can lead to children comparing themselves against unrealistic beauty standards. It’s important to make children aware of this and to also monitor how long they are spending on the platforms themselves. For tighter controls, you may set screen time limits on their devices to stop them spending longer than they’re allowed.
Comparison and insecurity
Social media can cause comparison and self-esteem issues in children in several ways. Social media often portrays an idealized version of life, where people post their best moments and edited photos, creating an unrealistic standard that can lead to negative self-comparison.
Children may compare themselves to their peers and influencers online, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They may feel pressure to conform to certain social norms or expectations, leading to anxiety and stress. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Social media can create a sense of FOMO, where children feel left out or excluded from events and activities posted online by their peers. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
Meanwhile, the number of likes, comments, and followers a child receives on their social media posts can become a measure of their social status and popularity, leading to a constant need for validation and approval.
If you’re having difficulty getting your child on board, talk to them – education is key and can help them to see where you are coming from. Parents and guardians can help children develop a healthy relationship with social media by encouraging them to focus on real-life experiences and relationships. They can also encourage children to limit their social media use and emphasize the importance of self-acceptance and self-care. Additionally, social media companies should take measures to reduce the negative impact of social media on children’s mental health, such as implementing age restrictions and providing tools to help users filter and manage their social media content.
For more parenting tips, feel free to check out my other posts.
