The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Parents should be savvy when it comes to children’s online habits
Social media users are getting younger – so how can we help protect them? More young children are using social media sites and apps than ever before, new research suggests.
According to Ofcom, 38% of five- to seven-yearolds now use social media, with WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and Discord particularly rising in popularity among this age group – despite the fact users are officially required to be at least 13.
Around 24% of children aged five to seven now own a smartphone, while 76% use tablets. In 76% of cases their parents have spoken to them about online safety.
It’s an important topic and often a big concern for parents, but what’s the best way to go about it? We asked the experts…
MODEL HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
For Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of the For Baby’s Sake Trust, parents have a role to play in ensuring children develop healthy relationships.
“That includes how we as parents treat others online, how much time we spend online, and whether we are fully present when our family need us, rather than scrolling,” says Seager-Smith.
“It is important to emphasise values like kindness and respect, which are important wherever you are, but there are different dangers online,” she adds.
“Children have more access to strangers and groomers who may mean them harm, and they may also access content that could harm their emotional and mental health.”
She notes that children may also feel under pressure to have many ‘friends’ and followers on social media. Parents and carers can also help here, by encouraging deep, meaningful friendships, over looking popular with high follower numbers.
EDUCATE YOURSELF ON WHAT THEY’RE USING
While most are familiar with Facebook and
Instagram, Emily Norris, parenting expert and author of Things I Wish I’d Known: My Hacks For A Tidy Home, Happy Kids And A Calmer You, doesn’t think many parents know about the likes of Snapchat and Roblox – which tend to be more popular with younger generations.
“But it’s really our business to learn about the apps and websites our children are using,” says Norris. “Although children have less freedom than we did in terms of say, going out, they have a lot of freedom online – which can be potentially quite dangerous unless we educate ourselves.
“We need to ensure we are aware of the parameters of the apps and any parental controls we can use.”
PROVIDE A SECURE BASE FOR THEM
Children can easily worry about getting into trouble or upsetting their parents – but open communication within families is vital when it comes to online safety. Parents can help by providing a secure base and safe environment from which their children can make sense of the world.
“Parents who offer an emotionally nourishing environment are more likely to have children and adolescents who feel comfortable having safe conversations around complex issues of cyber safety, sex, and consuming harmful content online, such as pornography, bullying and issues related to body image,” explains educational psychologist Dr Patricia Britto.
“For example, a great way to start a conversation with a child about complex issues is by reminding them who they can talk to if they are worried or uncomfortable about anything they do not wish to share with their parents.”
STAY AWARE OF BODY IMAGE INFLUENCES
“On social media, young people are constantly bombarded with images that they can compare themselves to,” says Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic.
“It is a hotbed for paranoia – particularly for young people who are experiencing a transformative phase of their lives where, for many, ‘fitting in’ is paramount.”
Be mindful of the potential impact on body image, and try to stay alert to warning signs that your child might need support.
“Setting rules around eating – for example, following a ritual, regime or a numbers-based diet – has the potential to lead to the development of a tricky relationship with food and, in extreme cases, an eating disorder,” says Yassin.
“Our diet-centred culture has developed a moral value system around food, and feeling like you’ve broken ‘rules’ or stepped out of line can solicit negative feelings.”