Social media and internet safety

Use of social media and its potential effects on children and adults is a hot topic, especially since the pandemic.

Navigating the world of social media and keeping our children safe can be a daunting prospect.

Once we are informed, we can make choices that we are comfortable with. It is important to recognise that our choices may differ from those of other parents. Your personal decision may be influenced by the maturity of your child/ren, your personal understanding of technology and the content you feel is appropriate for your child.

The following information on social media use in children was taken from the Kid’s Helpline website under the parent tab:

Young children mostly start using social media to play online games; they may then graduate to platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook. Children as young as 6 access social media sites and their access increases with age

Social media can be enjoyable and beneficial for your kids

Risk does not always equal harm on social media. Social media can offer many benefits for your kids:

1. To connect with family and friends
2. Expand their social circle
3. Share their creativity through music and art
4. Explore different ideas
5. Develop and express their unique identity
6. Provide opportunities to learn with others

However, there are some concerns that we must all be aware of as potential risk when accessing social media, including:

-Potential access to inappropriate content

-Having their personal information shared

-Being groomed online

-Being embarrassed, harassed, or attacked on social media

-Accidentally downloading viruses or malware

Empower yourself and your child to take steps to stay safe

Talk to them about things they can do to minimise the risks. Educate yourself about the steps you can take if things get out of hand or potentially dangerous.

• Provide a clear expectation about their online behaviour
• Use strong passwords and update them regularly
• Encourage them not to share passwords with friends
• Teach them about the consequences of sharing something online
• Encourage them to connect only with people they know offline
• Keep identifying information to a minimum e.g. do not reveal their location
• Encourage them to talk with a trusted adult about online issues
• Contact Police immediately if you become aware of grooming on social media
• Change privacy settings so only friends and family can view their profiles and posts
• Be aware of what your child is doing online and who they talk with

To access this information online follow this link: https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/social-media-and-safety

Other resources:

The Beacon app is a great resource for helping parents navigate suitable online content for their children

Also, check out https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ for reviews of movies, TV, games, apps, podcasts and books, including reviews from other parents and children. This can be a helpful guide in checking whether the content of something is suitable for your child.

Thanks for reading, Sam, school counsellor