Think again if you believed you could avoid talking about social media with your child. If your kid is about to turn 13, the youngster is technically allowed to have a social media account, like Instagram, for example. Here is what you need to know about teaching your youngster good habits when using Facebook, Instagram, and more.
Creating Social Media Accounts Too Early
Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, told CNN that children at the age of 13 are still forming their identities. According to him, the culture on social media often produces a very distorted view of relationships and values. Because it’s so widespread, Murthy thinks that it’s challenging to keep youngsters off social media. He advises, though, to unite and delay letting children open accounts until later in their teenage years.
If they want, children will still find a way to create social media accounts, even before the age of 13. It’s a little shocking how many young people create accounts on well-known social media platforms using fake birthdays and a parent’s email address. With all that being said, here are a few tips you get started when it comes to teaching your child good habits.
Start Discussing Social Media
Parents should start the conversation about social media early. This is what M.A., P.P.S., and social media expert Ana Homayoun thinks. She collaborated with Instagram to create parental safety guides. Even if they are not using these platforms, children start using the Internet at a young age. The truth is kids don’t learn about Instagram and other apps from their parents. They learn about them from peers, friends, older siblings, and other influencers. That said, it’s critical that parents actively promote conversations with their children about social media.
Set Time Limits
Kids struggle with self-control. It’s common for them to spend countless hours on social media. Whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour, you, as a parent, should decide on the right amount of time per day for them to spend using such apps. Use Instagram’s Activity Dashboard to mute push notifications, set daily time limit reminders, and more.
Implement an Effective Social Media Etiquette
A child’s self-esteem can be damaged by comments online. Use the tools outlined in Instagram’s resource guide and talk to your child about proper media etiquette. The app lets you filter out inappropriate or offensive words from your comments. One more thing you can also do is practice these positive habits yourself and become a role model for your youngster.