With apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube teenagers can create digital content such as photos, videos and blogs without any hassle. These attractive features keep teens glued to the screens of their Android devices. But, while sharing content about their personal lives, kids don’t fully understand that once shared on the digital media the content cannot be limited to a few people only.
How can Social Sites Be Damaging for Your Child?
Social sites can be damaging to your child in several ways. A few of them are highlighted below:
1. Lack of Privacy
Social sites expose your child to a wide variety of people and children are usually careless about the fact that their personal information can be misused against them.
2. High Risk of Dangers
Many hate groups can be found on Facebook and on other social sites which can create a negative and hateful behavior of your teenager. Excessive interaction with social media also makes your child vulnerable to sexting, explicit imagery, blackmail and harassment.
3. Emotional Effects
An excessive social media use can make your child deprived of interpersonal skills. Cyberbullying being extremely common on social media is the biggest threat to your child and can introduce the consuming feelings of anxiety and depression in teenagers.
Tips for Parents
The long term effects of all the features provided by social media cannot be estimated but it is essential for parents to stay informed about the involvement of social media in their children’s lives. Considering the fact that negative aspects of social media cannot be ignored, here are a few tips for parents:
1. Take Control of Your Teen’s Digital Use
Smartphones have become way too common among young children. You will see an Android device in the hands of every other teenager. Children can click pictures and videos of each other and can post them online to bully or embarrass each other. Make sure your child doesn’t get involved in bullying other kids.
Keeping an eye on your child’s digital conduct is of utmost importance. If your kid stays glued to his/her Android device 24/7, you can use the options of parental controls for Android to regulate your child’s digital use. One app that you can consider in this regard is FamilyTime that offers a range of valuable features ranging enlisting the most demanding contact monitoring, SMS tracking, call log monitoring, contact watchlisting, web monitoring, location tracking, Geo-fencing place, app usage monitoring, app blocking, scheduling auto screen locks, remotely locking devices, setting speed limits for teen’s drive safety, receiving alerts for SOS, PickMeUp, and speed limit violation etc. The list of FamilyTime features doesn’t end here. In fact, there is a lot more that you can do with the easy to use application. To know what, why not give this app a free try? To get the trial version of the app, go now to the play store on your phone or click the button below:
2. Encourage Your Child to Be Empathetic
Teach your child to stay out of trouble while using social media. Because their digital actions can hurt people in the same manner as any face to face argument can. Usually, children don’t comprehend about the consequences of their digital actions and insult each other rudely. Make sure your child shows an empathetic approach with his/her peers even on social sites.
3. Stay Connected to Your Teenager
Teenagers need special care and affection from parents. Take out some time for your child from your busy schedule and keep an open communication with your child. Discuss difficult topics such as online sex offenders, sexting, and cyber bullying. Encourage your child to always come to you in the case of any threat full situation.
