Common Sense Media | Christine Elgersma
It can be hard to keep up with the latest apps that kids are using. Just when you’ve figured out how to talk to your kids about Facebook, they’ve moved on to Instagram or Snapchat. But here’s the deal: Even when new apps come along, adding new features such as the ability to disappear or track your location, they’re often not that different from other apps. And if you know what to look for, you can help your kid avoid some common social media pitfalls such as drama, cyberbullying, and oversharing.
Does a red flag mean your kid shouldn’t use a particular app? Not at all. Most kids use social media apps safely — and kids don’t always use every feature of every app. Also, you can often disable certain features so they’re no longer a problem. Finally, talking about using social media safely, responsibly, and respectfully is the best way to help your kid identify and avoid red flags. Here are the most common social media red flags, the apps they’re found in, and tips for dealing with them.
Age-inappropriate content. Some examples: Ask.fm, Tumblr, Vine
Friends can share explicit stuff via messaging (for example, sexting), but the bigger concern is whether an app features a lot of user-generated content that isn’t appropriate to your kid’s age. Your teen may not even need to follow users who are posting explicit stuff to come across it.
- What to do: Ask your kid whom she follows, and ask to see what’s being posted. Use the app yourself and get a sense of what comes up in an average feed. Then try searching for content you’re concerned about and see how easy it is to find. Check the terms of use to see what the app allows and whether users can flag violators.
Public default settings. Some examples: Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Vine, Ask.fm
Many apps allow a user to have a public or private profile, only shared with friends; however, some apps are public by default, which means that a kid’s name, picture, and posts are available to everyone.
- What to do: As soon as you download the app, go into the settings to check the defaults. If a kid is using the same program on a browser, check there, too.
Location tracking and sharing. Some examples: Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram,Messenger
Wherever you go, there you are — and your social media apps know it. Though you may only indicate a city or neighborhood in a profile, allowing location identification often means that you’re tracked within a city block, and your posts may include your location.
- What to do: Turn off location settings on the phone AND in the app; check to see whether previous posts include location information, and delete it.
Real-time video streaming. Some examples: YouNow, Periscope, Meerkat (Facebook soon)
Live streaming is just that — live — so it’s very easy to share something you didn’t mean to. Kids may use these apps in private (such as in their bedrooms) and inadvertently share personal information without knowing exactly who is watching. Though they may seem temporary, embarrassing or mean moments are easily captured and shared later.
by MindMake via MindMake Blog
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