Social media has continued to grow in popularity with children and young people. Currently, the minimum age to open an account on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, YouTube and Snap Chat is 13.
Despite published age restrictions, a growing number of children are using social media networks, with or without their parent’s knowledge and consent. By accessing sites before they reach the appropriate age, young people risk being exposed to content which is intended for older users when they use sites that are not designed for people their age.
Parents have an important role in helping to prepare their children to stay safe online before they start to use social media platforms. The first thing to do is familiarise yourself with popular social media sites. Net Aware offers parent’s useful information about each social network, including age guidance for users.