Should you, or shouldn’t you? It’s natural for parents to face this conundrum at some point, especially as the age of children using social media is getting younger. In fact, research shows many kids are using social media before parents have spoken to them about how to use it responsibly. Research from Ofcom revealed that nearly a quarter of children aged five to seven have a smart phone.
Whether you’re ready to allow your child access to the digital world, or not, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of allowing children to venture into the digital world of likes and shares.
The pros
Social media can help kids to:
- Stay connected with friends and family
- Get involved with a campaign, non-profit or charity
- Enhance their creativity by sharing ideas, music and art
- Meet and interact with others who share similar interests
- Communicate with educators and fellow students
The cons
- Cyberbullying
- Oversharing
- Online predators
- Inappropriate content
- Peer pressure and low self-esteem
When is the right age to introduce a child to social media?
Social media platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook require users to be over the age of 13 (16 years old for WhatsApp), but the way these apps verify age differs. You can manage accessibility with parental controls, but if your child is interested in social media at an earlier age, it’s best to be open and discuss internet safety and whether it’s really the right time for them.
Our cyber parenting guide offers a range of cyber safety tips for parents, from the impact of screen time to what to do if your child is being bullied.
Source: Vodafone DP
