What is the right age for your son to start interacting with social media?

It’s a big question and for good reason. The proliferation of social media has coincided with a record increase in diagnosed anxiety and depression among young people over the last decade.

While most social media platforms have age recommendations (Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok are all 12+) there is no fool proof way to stop someone younger setting up an account and accessing content.

Even if your son may technically be old enough according to the recommendations, are they actually ready for social media?

It’s worth considering the following questions (recommended by our national e-Safety Commissioner) before allowing your son to use social media:

Does my child know how to deal with negative online experiences?

If you think your child would be very upset by a negative experience online, you may need to guide them closely if you allow them to establish a social media account.  

Look through online profiles and public feeds together and talk about how some people behave differently online. Teach them how to filter abusive comments, block and report people. 

Does my child understand the importance of protecting their personal information?

Explaining to a child why privacy is important can be difficult. Start by describing what personal information is. Emphasise that it includes anything that can identify them, such as their mobile number, email address, photos, the name of their school, and any sporting clubs they belong to.

Remind them that photos can contain information that could be used to identify them, such as a photo taken right outside your house or a photo of them in uniform.  

Let them know that if they share personal information online, it could mean that others, including strangers, could use it in ways they may not have thought about. Someone could even post bullying messages or inappropriate photos on social media while pretending to be them. 

Does my child understand what is safe to share online?

If you are concerned your child may post personal information that allows people to identify and locate them – even after you have talked about the dangers – then they may need your help to use social media sites. 

Discuss the risks of ‘checking in’, tagging people in photos, sharing nude or sexually suggestive pictures, meeting online friends in person, making offensive comments and other behaviour that is considered unacceptable. 

Is my child willing to let me establish clear rules and supervise their social media activity?

It is a good idea to supervise your child’s online activity, at least initially and certainly with younger children. Be clear on things like when and where online devices can be used and when they need to be switched off. The way a preschooler or younger child begins to use connected devices will instill good online habits from the start and help them transition to using social media later on. 

It is a good idea to protect younger children from online risks such as encountering harmful content, contact with strangers or missing out on physical activity. But it is up to you to decide when and how they take these first steps, and how best to support them as they begin their online journey. 

For more information, visit Are They Old Enough

 

Brought to you by Brighton Grammar School

This article is about Understanding Boys, Parenting