Once children are 13 or older, and are using social media independently, it is important that they state their correct age. Social media sites often have additional layers of protection for users aged between 13 and 18, including who can view their profiles and send friend requests etc. If a child has registered as a 20 year old for example, they will not be benefitting from these features. Remember to keep in mind that an open channel of communication, between you and the children you work with, is really valuable and will help give children the confidence to come to you for support when needed.
Top tips to help 13-18 year olds get the most out of social media:
- Protect their online reputation: Encourage children to “think before you post,” and use the safety settings provided to help manage their digital presence. You are only as private as your most public friend, and content posted online can last forever and could be shared publicly by anyone who sees it.
- Know their audience: It is possible to set profiles to ‘private’ or ‘friends only,’ which restricts access only to those who have been granted permission to see it. This is different to a public profile which can be seen by anyone. Depending on the app/site, the privacy settings do differ so it is important to check what’s in place – especially because the default option may be public. There are also ways that you can prevent your profile from appearing in search engine results; most social media sites allow you to remove your profile from public search results by using the privacy settings.
- Handling pressure: If a child is being pressured into doing something, let them know that they can talk to you about it and they won’t get in to trouble for asking for help. If something happens that upsets them online, it’s never too late to tell someone.
- Keep personal information safe: Ensure from the outset that the children you work with, know what personal information is, and what is ok / not ok to be shared online. Personal information includes your full name, home address, school address, email and passwords etc. This will help children protect themselves, and their friends online. If you are concerned that an adult has inappropriately contacted a child then this can be reported to CEOP.
- Make a report: Social media sites should have clear, prominent and accessible places to make a report. Providers should respond promptly to reports from users, and some will acknowledge each report with a confirmation that it has been received, and indicate the timescale in which the complaint will be managed. Make sure you talk to the children you work with about these tools and ensure that they know how to use them.
Find out more about how to make a report.