Social Media                                                     

Are they old enough to use the social media app?

Most social media apps have a minimum age requirement of 13 but research shows that children as young as 9 are using social media apps so, it’s important to think about the type of content they are likely to see on the app and whether it is age-appropriate. Social media does offer positive experiences for children, including the opportunity to express themselves and access support systems to help build their identity. However, this does come with associated risks:

  • Addiction: Constantly checking the news feed of the different social media sites becomes an addictive habit. Experts think that some features such as ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ activate the reward centre in the brain. This reward circuitry is highly sensitive during adolescence and may partly explain why teenagers are more into social media than adults. These features further influence our moods.

  • Exposure to strangers using fake profiles: There is the risk of encountering online groomers. Groomers may go to a social network used by young people and pretend to be one of them. They might attempt to gain trust by using fake profile pictures, pretending to have similar interests, offering gifts and saying nice things to the child.

  • Sexting and sending photos: Define as “when someone shares sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos of themselves or others, or sends sexually explicit messages.” Students are being educated on the risks on doing this, but we are aware large number of young people still do.

  • Cyber bullying and Fear of missing out (FOMO): Bullying is easier on social media platforms, in the form of threatening messages or subtle posts with offensive content directed at a particular person. This can also lead to depression as they feel picked on, online, and FOMO is them believing that the lives of their friends are better than theirs, even though they may know that their representation is idealised. 

  • Social interaction skill development: Researchers has investigated how screen relationships detract from spending time in real life relationships and developing social skills. Some results show when people use digital media for social interaction, they’re spending less time developing social skills and learning to read nonverbal cues.

What can you do?

  • As part of online safety education, all students at Highfields receive training about the risks highlighted above, but you can also offer support by:

  • Speak to children about what information should remain private

  • Add them as a friend on the social network, so you can see their activity and speak to them about it. You can also use this as a way to interact and develop a relationship as they would with their peers

  • Ask to see their “friend-list” as often on social media platforms users can add people they don’t know, and this is where the fake profiles can become a serious risk. 

  • Help apply privacy settings 

    Further information