Parents and carers (and Youth Leaders) play an important role in helping young people to understand both the benefits and potential dangers of social media. You need to be aware of the platforms available to young people and the ones they are using – talk to them about keeping safe while using the internet and social media. Make sure that the social media sites are appropriate for them to use, many have age restrictions, these are in place for a reason – to keep them safe. If you think they need to wait to have a devise or use certain sites explain why and stick to it. Talk to them about what is appropriate to post and how to maintain their and others privacy, including geolocation settings. Agree boundaries for Social Media/internet use at home, church and during youth events/activities. Set parental controls/filters to block inappropriate content, use safe search engines and encourage use in communal areas. Be aware of ‘open’ wifi areas as these may expose young people to inappropriate content. Make sure they know how to report offensive content or block people who upset them. Keep talking to them about it!

• Most social media sites have age restrictions – please follow these and only use if you meet the age requirements
• Make your social media accounts private (where the platform allows).
• Check your settings and update regularly to ensure that you are using the maximum protection available
• Keep your personal details private e.g. phone numbers, address, school, holiday location (disable geo-location on apps)
• When you take photos/videos to post think about if they could reveal personal details about yourself or others e.g. school uniform/logo, your location
• Don’t post photos or videos which may jeopardize your or another’s safety or character.
• Think before you post – is it appropriate for others to see? Use the ‘Grandma’ test – Would I feel ok for my Grandma to see this?
• Use different strong passwords for your social media accounts
• Use your device security e.g. passwords to switch on and use your phone
• Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know in real life
• Tell an adult you trust if someone is teasing or harassing you or posts something you find upsetting.

There are a number of websites to help parents and carers keep their children/young people safe online:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safety-online-a-practical-guide-for-parents-and-carers/child-safety-online-a-practical-guide-for-parents-and-carers-whose-children-are-using-social-media – Helps parents and carers understand and provides practical tips to help minimise the risks children may have to deal with when using social media.
• https://www.internetmatters.org/ – Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly. From age-specific online safety checklists to guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, you’ll find a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world. As well as how to report issues.
  • There is specific advice for parents and carers of 11-13s and 14+ together with downloadable online safety guides for these age groups. Partners include SKY, BT and VirginMedia
• https://www.net-aware.org.uk/ – Net Aware brings together the NSPCC’s expertise in protecting children and O2’s tech know-how. Keeping you up to date with the latest news and advice around the apps, sites and games your kids are using.