Online safety organisation warns parents not to ban their kids from social media

ONLINE safety organisation warns parents not to ban their kids from social media following recent discussions in the media. Internet Matters has urged parents that it could be 'counterproductive in the long term'.

Carolyn Bunting, General Manager of Internet Matters said: "It's so important that parents set boundaries with their children and the time they spend on social media, just like they would with anything else in their day-to-day lives. Social media plays an important part of everyday life for kids, from socialising through to education. So taking their smartphones or technology away for good, or banning them from social media, may be counterproductive in the long term, as children might be more reluctant to open up and tell you if they have got into trouble online in the future for fear they will have it taken away again. But it is a balance and they should know where the boundaries lie. We'd also encourage parents to play an active role in their children’s digital lives. This starts with a conversation, no matter how tricky or awkward that may seem, on what they are doing online, how they’re using it and the implications of their actions."

Internet Matters’ five steps parents can take immediately:

  1. Ask your child what they are doing online. It’s important you understand what websites, apps, and social media platforms they are on.
  2. Check their privacy settings. Make sure they know how to make their profiles ‘private’ so they are not sharing personal information to strangers. Facebook have a Privacy Heathcheck feature.
  3. Make sure they know when and how to report and block any malicious or inappropriate messages or posts.
  4. Check your parental controls on your home broadband and safety filters that block inappropriate content across any devices.
  5. Talk to your children about the risks they may be exposed to and how to deal with them, such as cyberbullying and grooming, and ensure they feel able to come and talk to you if they see anything upsetting.

 

For more information and step-by-step guidance, visit internetmatters.org.

Keep up to date

Receive the latest news, events, offers, competitions and so much more!

Advert: https://www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk/events/
Advert: https://www.books2door.com/products/maggie-sparks-series-by-steve-smallman-5-books-collection-box-set-ages-5-7-paperback?utm_source=primarytimes&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=primarytimes_leaderboard
Advert: https://celticharmony.org/product/easter-days-out/
Advert: https://experiences.redbullracing.com/experiences/
Advert: https://monktonwyldcourt.co.uk/family-week/