3. Suggestions for keeping your child safe
Check age requirements and content suitability
Take the opportunity to explore social media apps your child shows interest in. You should become familiar with the apps’ minimum age requirements, range of content and interactions. This will help you assess whether the apps are suitable for your child and their stage of development.
Enable privacy settings
You should become familiar with the settings menus on the social media platforms your child uses. There will often be settings to manage privacy and interactions, such as choosing between public and private accounts, and to disable location-sharing features. Some platforms will have parental control features, which can help you supervise your child’s account.
Teach critical thinking
Help your child understand what is and is not appropriate for them to share online. It is important to explain that all content they post can be screenshotted, saved and widely shared.
Remind your child of the importance of verifying information they see online before believing or sharing it. Discuss the risks of fake profiles and how to identify them.
Talk about the risks of online interactions
Speak to your child about the risks of connecting with strangers online. Explain the importance of not sharing:
- any personal or identifiable information on their profile or within chats
- their location with people they do not know in the real world
Encourage your child to tell you if they have:
- been asked personal questions
- been made to feel upset or uncomfortable
- been asked to share their location
- experienced unwanted visits from people they have met online
Monitor and block inappropriate users
Teach your child how to block or report users who make them feel uncomfortable or act inappropriately. Explain that they can speak to you if they encounter a situation that makes them feel unsafe or upset, so you can help them handle it appropriately.