Social Media is part of our every day life with no doubt. So many platforms exist and the number of users increases every year!
A big part of Social Media users are kids and teenagers who lack the knowledge of the dangers hidden like in many other things.
Thus it is the duty of parents, or elders if you prefer, to guide them into a more safe experience.
So here are some tips for you if you happen to be around young people who use or want to use Social media.
1) Educate yourself first - Many people do not know the basics of Social media even if they use them themselves. Furthermore there are many platforms one can use and perhaps your children are using some you do not. So it is best to know well the various platforms and how they work. To do that you can either search on line for education or talk to a specialist on Social Media.
2) Be careful of age limits - Some Social Media platforms have age limits. Some other do not. Despite the age limits though you have to establish one with your children before they start using them. Some children may insert false data just to get access. Explain them why they should wait up to a certain age.
3) Talk to your kids about the dangers - Social Media is much more than a place to have fun. This should be made clear to kids. You should also explain that people post insulting images and videos, or even with intense violence. Kids should not be exposed to such content. On the other hand they must know that what they post might offend others as well. Thus they must be in an age were they can assess dangers and threats.
4) Check privacy settings - It's one thing to use Social Media to let people know what you like and its another thing to keep your private life private. Teach your kids about privacy and what it means. Teach them also how to use privacy settings so only their close friends or family can see what they post.
5) Set guidelines - Like anything kids use, some basic guidelines should be agreed upon so they can use Social Media responsibly and under supervision. Do not impose rules but rather set guidelines. For example how long they can use Social Media is a basic thing. You can also arrange to spend some time together like a tutorial where you can help them establish positive habits.
These are some simple tips anyone can use for better surfing on Social Media. One must also understand that what we are going to teach our kids we must apply first! Kids and teens are on a sensitive age and we must be as supportive as possible to keep them and others safe.
*If you need extra advice or have recommendations do not hesitate to contact me.
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