Teaching Your Child to Use Social Media Responsibly – Social media can be a fickle thing, but children will want to start using it as soon as they are able to, especially if their friends already use the most popular social networks and want to get the most out of them. While it has its many benefits, we recommend looking at ways that help your child manage social media responsibly, with some suggestions put forward by this private school in Oxford.
Teaching Your Child to Use Social Media Responsibly
Explore the most common social networks right now
The social networks for children tend to change a lot, and what we use on a regular basis might not be what your child ends up using a lot. For example, a lot more video-based content is becoming the best way for children to absorb new information. With this new found knowledge you’re going to be a lot more equipped when supporting your child.
Look to alternative ways of social media
Your child might not be interested in making social media accounts at all, but they might well communicate in other ways. If your child plays video games often then this is a good time to hammer home that they need to be careful when playing with strangers. In a way this is another way for children to socialise, but also has its risks. You will need to be clued in on these areas as well so that they don’t fall victim to any online scams that might appear innocent.
Talk to your child about your experiences online
There’s a lot you can teach your child about your own experiences when you’ve used social media. This is a good time to talk to your child about what has happened to you in the past and how it can help their confidence. But it’s also a good time to show them the networks you do like and why, to make them feel like safe spaces if they are controlled. After all, these social networks should bring joy and opportunities for all of us – make sure they know how to use these outlets in positive ways.
Social media can feel scary to introduce to children, but there are a lot of things you can do to help your child feel comfortable when they do start to use them. As long as you highlight the risks to them appropriately, there is enough time to help your child become aware of what to avoid.