3 ways to teach your child about social media safety

Smartphone usage amongst children is at an all time high. In Ireland, children as young as eight are now using social media.

Keeping children safe when using social media is top of mind for most parents today.

But rather than keeping your child away from social media altogether, you can be proactive in building their online safety skills, today.

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What do pre-teens use social media for?

Pre-teens, aged eight to 14 in Ireland, engage with social media in a variety of ways.

It’s one of their main sources of social interaction, allowing them to stay connected with their friends outside of school and activity groups.

It’s a great place for entertainment and creativity, where they can discover new music, foods, fashions, and cultures from different parts of the world.

It’s a useful educational tool, with platforms like YouTube and TikTok being a great source of tutorial and historical information to support school learning.

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What are the risks of social media for pre-teens?

Benefits aside, there are some safety risks that parents must be aware of when letting their pre-teen use social media.

Making sure your child has the right privacy settings in place, and that they know what information to keep private online, is key to preventing Stranger Danger. Similarly, making sure they have the right content moderation settings on their account, and know what accounts to avoid engaging with, can keep harmful content at bay.

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What’s the best way to teach my child about social media safety?

To teach your child about the risks of social media, and how to avoid them, it’s important to use methods that keep them engaged and that resonate with them.

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1. Have honest conversations and learn together

Educating your child about social media should be a two-way street.  Initiate open conversations about the kind of social media content that’s out there, what they’re using social media for, how they are approaching negativity and conflict. Dropping casual, yet effective, questions like these into conversations with your child creates a safe space for them to share their thoughts and concerns about online kindness. From here, you can both discuss and work out the solutions together.

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2. Be consistent and provide ongoing support

Sporadic talks are a great start, but they aren't enough. Providing consistent guidance is necessary to reinforce the safe practices of engaging online. The same way they learned how to cycle with a set of stabilisers, or to swim with a pair of armbands, is the same way they should learn about social media safety. Taking small steps, building confidence, and providing support along the way.

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3. Use tools and technology they enjoy

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Make use of resources designed to aid in teaching these complex topics, with a focus on those that will resonate. Apps, and interactive games, such as the newly launched Sersha game, provide an educational yet engaging way for children to grasp social media safety concepts. With an avatar and a team of virtual friends, kids can explore diverse social media scenarios on the Sersha game to make informed decisions and understand their consequences, in a secure setting.

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