Teaching Your Child to Use Social Media Responsibly

Social media has become a part of many of our routines. For many of us, it’s the first thing that we check when we wake up and spend the day just scrolling through due to “FOMO” (fear of missing out) and how addictive it’s become. While it is a means of staying connected with friends and family, there are also dangers to be mindful of and is something which children should be taught about. We spoke with a group of teachers from an independent school for some guidance on how parents should go about this and have shared some of their points below.

 

Oversharing

We can overshare without even realising. Updating privacy settings and being mindful to not share their live location can help children to stay safe online. Whether that be check-in or location tags, it can be seen by anyone if their profile is public or somewhat visible to others. While it is a shame that we must take such precautions, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Any personal and sensitive information should be left off social media including where they go to school, their home address etc. 

 

Thinking Before a Post

We can share what we’re doing with our friends and family with just a click but it’s important that we think before we post. Despite being behind a screen, the things we say can be just as hurtful and carry the same force. Posts have the potential to offend others and can land us in trouble. Online, there’s a digital footprint of everything that we do and in future, when applying for a job, this may come back in an unexpected way, portraying a negative image and damaging their career prospects. While advanced privacy settings can be opted for, it’s best to stay away from posting anything that has the potential to cause upset and is something worth considering before posting anything. 

 

*Photo via Pexels

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