With so many of us adults burying our faces in our smartphones these days, it’s easy to overlook the kid over in the corner getting his or her own phone and jumping in to social media. Yet while adults sign up on different platforms and navigate through the many social media sites with little deliberation, this freedom to surf is fraught with danger when it comes to kids.
In fact, there are potential financial and emotional dangers, pitfalls and future consequences to worry about — whether you’re coming to the issue as a parent or as someone with an online site creating content for young users.
How young is too young?
If your child (or potential customer) is below 13 years of age, it is advisable that that he or she stay away from social media. Most social media platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have implemented stringent measures to bar children below this age from signing up. This is in accordance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which:
• Controls how companies should interact with young people online.
• Has guidelines in place ruling that data from children under 13 years cannot be collected without parental permission.
Still, because kids may succeed at passing themselves off as adults on sign-up forms while they’re still minors, they’re paving the way to a number of risks which their parents should be asking about.
Do age restrictions mean that all 13-year-olds aren’t ready because of their age?
One rule cannot work for all children. Children mature in different ways and at different rates and, as a parent, you ought to consider a couple of things. For instance, if you are struggling with: your children’s attention-span problems, the hard time you’re having getting them to sleep and their trouble in school due to poor focus, then your plan to introduce new technology to them this Christmas won’t be setting them up for success, even if they’re over 13.
So, give them time to become well-adjusted teens before you introduce a smartphone or computer (for nonschool purposes).
Similarly, your children might be mature enough to use social media before they’re 13. However, to stay safe, you’re best off waiting until they’re 13 before deciding whether they can be on social media.
Understanding social media’s connection…
