Why Parents Should Not Monitor Social Media? Protect Your Kids

Do you know what your kids are doing online? Do you know how they started using social media and how far they have gone? Well, these are the questions that most parents face and ask themselves most of the time. Unfortunately, most parents don’t take the necessary and right steps to know the things that might help them in protecting their kids.

Yes, you heard it right. Your kids need protection.

If you have been agreeing to the thought that parents should not monitor social media of their kids, then maybe you need to know more about what exactly goes on social media. No platform is indeed dangerous unless it is abused. The same is the case with social media. You might have learned your smart and wise ways around social media, but can you vouch for the safe use by kids?

Whether it is through text messages or smartphone apps like Snapchat or Instagram, today the children and youth have been sharing their personal information far beyond what their parents could share in their youth. That’s why parents need to learn about the technologies their kids have been using and how dangerous could they go. At first, you must understand what social media is for your kids.

What is Social Media?

Social media consist of websites and apps that allow the kids to create and share content with others. Some of the most popular social media platforms include YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, etc.

There are multiple ways through which people can use social media such as:

·Making Friends

Depending on the platform they are using, there are multiple ways to make friends and share stuff with them. You can have your friends share stuff with you or you can make new friends which is a bit risky.

·Online Profiles

Most of these social media sites require the user to create a profile where they are supposed to share some basic information like name, email address, hobbies and interest, and a lot more things according to their choice.

·Content Sharing

Social media has given the kids the freedom to share everything they want. Kids have been sharing their emotional statuses, daily photos, and even videos about things related to them. If you look at their profiles, you will find all the stuff they have been sharing, and sometimes it is not even real.

·Vlogs

A new trend has been in the market for many years now. Kids have been inspired to make vlogs on websites like YouTube. Kids and adults, everyone is doing it these days to gather fame and earn at the same time. However, the content isn’t the same. Some are using their daily life content to do this while there are people who are more into adventurous stunts and activities to capture the attention.

·Online Dating

Many of these social media websites are a great platform to find a romantic partner. Since kids are already hyped up with their emotions and want to develop new relationships, social media allows them to pursue this area. However, it must be noticed that these relationships are often not serious and real, and kids are easily fooled by such glitter.

·Online Gaming

This trend has taken things to another edge where kids play online games with people around the world. While playing these games, they often end up in heated arguments and this can lead to bad consequences.

·Forums and Groups

Social media offers different forums and groups to let users share their knowledge and opinions about certain things. However, these forums are also largely used to cyberbully and humiliate.

Why Parents Should Not Monitor Social Media of Their Kids?

When you think about the things that might happen to your kids on social media, you can hardly think about not caring for them. The thought that parents should not monitor social media of their kids is an old one. Nowadays, parents know how dangerous social media can be for kids.

Although kids ask for their privacy rights and most parents think like that too, but in reality, they don’t know what they are doing. Parents don’t realize that kids don’t share the same wisdom as them when it comes to using new things. If they are left unguided and free to use social media, they might end up hurting themselves. That’s why parents must monitor social media of their kids for their safety.

How Can Parents Protect Their Kids?

If you are concerned about social media safety for your kids, there are ways in which you can protect them and guide them for their betterment:

• First, keep yourself informed about the platforms they are using. Some have strict age restrictions and some have other limitations. Know about it all before jumping on to your kids.
• If it is possible, keep the computers and tablets in the common area where you can see what they are doing.
• Talk to them about what they are exploring every day and how they are using social media. What people are they meeting and how do they find social media for them. Ask them about their experience in a friendly way.
• When you give them their first smartphone, it is obvious that they will make profiles on social media. It is better for them if you sit with them and help them make the accounts keeping their privacy in check. You can also guide them about several things while helping them with the account.
• Use parental control apps like SecureTeen to keep your kids’ social media usage in check. You can easily know what they are doing, who they talking to, and if they are safe or not. By using a parental control app, you can keep them safe and know the danger before them.

Using these tips will help you keep your kids out of danger. Don’t forget to get them on the same boat first, as they shouldn’t feel suffocated by your authoritative attitude. They should know that you care for them.

Reference Articles:

https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/social_media

https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/monitoring-kids-online-activity-doesnt-help/

https://www.secureteen.com/social-media/teens-and-social-media