How To Keep Your Kids Safe On Social Media

From scammers and cyberbullies to problematic influencers, to fake news and more, there are many things to worry about when exposing your kids to social media.

It does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach when allowing our children on social media and the internet. What's important is that parents continue to supervise and guide children to responsible use of digital media.

Here are some good points to start with in making social media safe for kids:

Reminders for keeping kids safe on social media

1. Usernames and passwords

Sure, BabyYoda as a password is cute and easy to remember. Still, it won’t be enough to protect your kids from people trying to get into their social media accounts and getting their personal information.

The basics of data privacy are secure usernames and strong passwords. Teach them how to make strong passwords that are easy to remember (to them) and that they should NEVER REUSE any of their passwords.

You could also take it one step further (especially for your tweens) and teach them never to use their real names on their public and online gaming profiles.

2. Logging out

Aside from secure passwords, remind your kids to always log out after using gadgets that are not their own (yes, even those owned by other family members, just so they can get into the habit).

In the same manner, teach them that if someone else leaves their social media accounts still logged in to never use or go through other people’s accounts and gadgets without explicit permission or share photos, videos, and screenshots without consent.

3. Privacy Settings

One of the basics of social media safety for kids is to keep all their profiles private. Facebook profiles can be locked and all their posts and photos can be set up to only be seen by selected audiences.

Instagram also has the option to keep profiles private so that accounts will have to be approved before they can follow. Check out your kid’s other social media accounts and keep all of them private.

You also have to note that these platforms update their policies all the time, so make sure you’re up to date by regularly checking their privacy settings!

Next, since we’ve set up their profiles to be private, it’s time to make sure their chosen audience is safe.

On social media age limits: You can enforce an internal age limit for your kids for your peace of mind if you feel like they aren’t ready or equipped enough [to own a social media account] yet. No one knows your child better than you, not even the app developers! 

Social media platforms encourage connection between their users and are always suggesting related accounts and mutual friends to get in touch with, but that defeats the purpose of keeping their profiles private.

To prevent this, teach your kids to say no to online friends that they don't know in real life and to never add people they are not close with, even if they are acquaintances with them.

4. Age Restrictions

There’s a reason the most popular social media sites have 13 as their minimum age to sign up. According to Psychology Today, it takes kids at least 12 years to fully develop the cognitive structures that allow them abstract thinking, which is imperative in developing ethical thinking.

Not all social networking sites enforce this, some may have lower or higher age limits but 13 is a good age marker to start introducing them to social media (if you’re ready by then).

However, you can also enforce an internal age limit for your kids for your peace of mind if you feel like they aren’t ready or equipped enough yet. No one knows your kid better than you, not even the app developers! 

Feel free to adjust your home age restrictions according to your kid’s personality and maturity level, and lower supervision as they get older and understand the consequences. And then maybe fully let go when you feel that they are equipped enough.

The guides are there to help, but don’t be afraid to set your own rules!

RELATED: Why Filipinos Desperately Need A Guide To Raising Kids In A Digital World

5. Parental controls

Parental controls are easy to set up and are essential to keep your child's online experience positive and safe. Start with setting up safe search and reminding them to keep their webcams covered when they’re not on video call.

Monitor their app downloads and be wary of the new ones that don’t have a lot of reviews yet. Never let them use apps that ask for permission to access their contacts and gallery.

Review the games they play (and check the messages from other players), and routinely check their profiles, posts, the people and accounts they follow, and online activity in general.

Lastly, teach them to recognize secure URLs and not to click on suspicious links.

6. Screen Time

Now this is something we already know is a good idea. Experts recommend zero screen time for 2 years and below, less than an hour with a guardian for ages two to five years old, and two hours maximum for ages six and up.

However, like the age restrictions, different parents have varying screen times for their kids. But enforcing screen time isn’t the only way to keep them away from their gadgets.

Let’s not forget that encouraging non-screen hobbies is still the best strategy. Like set screen times, you could schedule daily non-screen activities such as outdoor play and sports, or reading, puzzles, and art if they aren’t fans of physical activities.

Find the sweet spot of screen time for your kids, not too little that they feel deprived, and not too long that they get too sucked in. You could also change up the rules from time to time, like longer hours for non-school days or during vacations.

And if you want to take it a step further, set an example yourself and give yourself screen time limits as well. It will do wonders for you, too!

7. Digital Footprint

Whatever you put on the internet will be there forever, so remind your children to practice thinking before they post and make sure that their entire online presence will only put them in a positive light.

Educate yourself on the most popular sites popular among your kids, find out what is it that they enjoy so much about, and you’ll be able to spot the potential dangers.

8. The Hard Stuff

Unfortunately, you will have to be the one to first talk to them about the bad stuff. Whether it’s cyberbullying, porn, or internet sex work, you can not warn them about something they don’t know anything about.

You want to be their safe space, the first person that they run to when they get curious about something, and not let the internet (or other people) twist their minds about heavy topics such as these.

RELATED: How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Topics

9. The 'Perfect' Image

Do you remember what it was like to be a tween and teen?

Your kids going through puberty are already self-conscious and going through a lot of changes that they don’t fully understand yet, and being constantly exposed to influencers and celebrities on the internet isn’t good for them.
There’s no way you can completely shield your children from seeing all these, but you can educate them about how the seemingly perfect lives of the rich and beautiful influencers does not show the full picture.

Remind your children (especially your girls) that the bodies they are growing into will never be perfect but will always be real, while pictures of pretty influencers are heavily edited. When they struggle with negative body image, share your own experience and insecurities and point out how their worth is not found in their physical appearance.

10. Hold Their Hand

Social media influences behavior, affects our mental and physical health, and has the power to change the way we view ourselves and the world.

And as parents, it is our responsibility to give them the map that they need to navigate the world.

But we’re here to help you navigate parenthood as well! We’re all new to this social media safety for kids and we’re learning every day, so be gentle with yourself as well.

You’ve got this!