It can be hard to keep up with the constantly changing landscape of social media and what our children are exposed to. We want them to stay safe while they take advantage of the wonderful opportunities that technology has afforded us, and this means understanding the risks associated with online communication. Social media safety is a crucial concern for parents everywhere and having strategies in place for keeping your child safe online can give you peace of mind when allowing them access to technology.

Take for example my own daughter - I was wary about allowing her on social media. Still, eventually, I set some ground rules such as not adding people she doesn't know and always turning off location services. This way, I could rest assured that she was interacting safely online. By understanding the potential risks associated with social media, I was able to equip her with knowledge and strategies for staying safe online.

Fortunately, many resources are available to help parents ensure their children are protected from technology hazards. Social media safety can be achieved through education about the dangers, setting clear expectations for behavior on social media, monitoring your child's online activity, and helping them understand why it is important to stay safe online. With some planning and parental guidance, it is possible to keep your child secure while they explore all that today's technology has to offer.

1. Know your kids' internet friends

As parents and caregivers, it is important to ensure our children are equipped with the skills needed to be cyber-savvy. Teaching them the basics of online security from an early age can help them identify risks and protect themselves from potential online dangers. As part of this, it's essential to keep track of who your child exchanges messages with on social media and become a friend or contact within their circles. While they may not appreciate being monitored, explaining that this is one of the conditions for allowing them access can help make sure they stay safe online.

Being aware of your child's online activities is an essential part of making sure they are safe. With the proper education and guidance, they can navigate the digital world with confidence and use it to its full potential.

2. To maintain privacy, be "share conscious"

It is important to remind your child that anything they post on the internet could become public. Not only could it be seen by people they know, but even strangers. Make sure that your child understands that they should be cautious and thoughtful when posting information or images online. Encourage them to ask themselves whether the information (i.e. name, phone number, home address, email, name of school) or photo they are sharing is something they would give a stranger. If not, then it may be best not to post it.

Moreover, you can ask your child if you can take a look at what they are about to share or have an older sibling check for any potentially sensitive content before it's posted online. With these simple steps, you can help ensure that their personal information and photos remain safe.

3. Keep devices and screens visible

Creating a safe online environment for your children is essential. Monitor their time spent online and try to keep the computer in a central spot in the home – that way, you can easily check what they are accessing and viewing. For mobile devices, you can set them to forget Wi-Fi passcodes so there's no access without you knowing. Another idea is to make an agreement not to use tablets, laptops, or gaming in bedrooms. And, as your kids get older, monitoring browser histories can help ensure they're staying safe online. Above all else, start discussing internet safety early on – it'll go a long way towards helping protect them from potential risks while they're surfing the web.

4. Control your family's online presence

It's important for kids and parents alike to understand the potential implications of sharing personal information online. Every post, image, and detail shared on social media or the internet contributes to someone’s digital footprint - meaning that once it's out there, you can no longer control how it is used. Plus, everything posted online is usually permanent; it may be deleted but not before others have seen it and saved it.

To protect themselves from potential risks, children should be taught to only share with people they know and trust, using privacy settings on all their social media accounts. By being smart about their digital footprint now, kids can ensure that they remain in control of their own data in the future. Parents should also take extra steps to guard their children's online presence, when posting pictures and details of them on the internet.

5. Set a good example and lead by doing it yourself

Leading by example is an important part of teaching your children how to use the internet responsibly. Show them that you take caution and act respectfully when surfing online, and they will be more likely to do the same. It's also important to remember that setting limits on screen time for both yourself and your children can help keep everyone safe while still allowing them to explore all the wonders the web has to offer.

It's not about instilling fear in your kids but rather equipping them with the skills needed to make positive choices and steer clear of any potential danger. By helping nurture their online behaviour from a young age, you are ultimately giving your children a great gift - a lifelong ability to confidently navigate the digital world.

6. Track online time

Having too much screen time can have a negative impact on children's well-being, so it's important to limit their usage. Set a period of time for your child to spend online each day – preferably no more than two hours. You can agree together on an amount of time, like 30 minutes per session, and use a timer to keep track. At night, switch off the home Wi-Fi at a set time to give everyone a break from the internet. Additionally, try introducing some days into the week that are completely screen-free in your household – this will encourage your child to explore different activities that don't involve technology. Keeping your child's screen time under control is essential for their health and development!

7. Understand parental controls

Using parental controls can help ensure your child is safe online. For instance, the SafeSearch Filters feature on Google blocks websites with explicit sexual content and other inappropriate material, allowing you to create a safer browsing experience for your little ones. To turn it on, simply go to Settings/SafeSearch Filters. While these filters are not infallible, they can be an effective way of keeping your children from accessing damaging or offensive content on the web.

8. Be socially savvy

It is important to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to ensure your children's safety while they are on social networks. Familiarize yourself with the platforms and apps they use, and understand the privacy settings available in order to protect them. Talk to your children about how they can stay safe online, like talking with a trusted person when they are feeling uncomfortable or worried, as well as being aware of what constitutes online bullying – both as an aggressor and a victim.

It's essential that your child knows how to use social networks safely. Ensure they know how to report any inappropriate or offensive posts, block someone who is making them feel uncomfortable, and keep their personal information private. Setting these boundaries will help keep them safe online.

9. Discuss your child's online activity with them honestly

As soon as your child starts venturing into the world wide web, it's important to start having conversations about what they're doing online. Talk to them about the content they're viewing and who they're communicating with. Make a list of all the websites and apps that you know your child is using so you can go through them together. Explain why certain sites or activities might be inappropriate - but also note that different families have different standards when it comes to these things. Listen to your child’s point of view and come up with an agreement on what’s right for your family.

Remind them that at some stage they'll need to access the internet outside of the home, too - so now's the time to start teaching them how to stay safe and act responsibly online. Encourage them to think carefully about what they post or say in public forums, and always keep in mind that the internet isn't private.

10. Teach your kids to keep their location hidden

Geo-tagging features are convenient, but they can also put your privacy and safety at risk. Make sure to disable this feature on all apps, networks, and devices you use. Photos taken with digital cameras often contain hidden metadata that let others know when and where the image was captured - something you might not want to share. Some social media platforms automatically remove this data, but not all of them do, so it’s important to do your research and be aware of what information is being shared.

Social media safety is a key aspect of digital parenting, and it's important to take the time to educate yourself on the risks so you can help your children stay safe online. By ensuring that your kids are aware of potential risks, having ongoing conversations about appropriate behaviors, setting ground rules for their social media use, knowing who they’re talking to, monitoring their usage and activities, and taking advantage of parental controls when possible; you can help keep them safe from harm.

We hope this article has been helpful in understanding how to keep your child safe on social media platforms. If you have any questions or would like more information, don’t hesitate to join us today at https://linktr.ee/ottotheoctopus and we’ll be happy to help.