Parental control on social networks

There is no doubt that we live in the digital era and within this era, social networks are already part of our lives, of course also of children and teenagers who, in reality, are 100%, digital natives. In this case, parental control plays an important role in their correct use by children and young people.
Surely you have heard of ‘Generation Z’, a generation born between 1997 and 2010 and which is the first fully digital generation, a generation born surrounded by digital devices and with the Internet as part of their daily lives.
If you have young children, you will know perfectly well what we’re talking about when we see children as young as 3 years old fluently handling tablets and smartphones and watching their favorite animations on YouTube or cool dances through TikTok, maybe it is a shock, yes, but it is a reality that we have to face.

Main dangers of social networks for minors
Bad use of social networks could lead to many dangers for minors or unaware people, although this technological and digital dominance by minors is evident, it is not the same if we talk about the affective and psychological part, something in which, as is normal, adults are the ones who have to educate and advise their children.
Therefore, if you are one of those parents who literally “don’t care about social networks and so much technology” you should start getting up to date because there are many dangers that your child can face if they walk freely and without any control over their use of social networks.

Cyberbullying and the dreaded bullying
Cyberbullying, closely related to bullying, is the psychological harassment between peers, using telematics such as mobile phones, email, online video games, or social networks such as Instagram or TikTok. We talk about cyberbullying when one or more minors threaten, annoy, humiliate or harass another minor through any telematics or digital media and unfortunately social networks are an ideal place for these bullies.

Sexting
Sexting is an adult practice from which minors do not escape and which unfortunately more and more teenagers are practicing without being aware of the possible consequences. The ease with which social networks such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, or WhatsApp themselves allow the exchange of photos and videos in real time has led to the proliferation of this practice.
What many young people don’t quite understand is that, even if you have a private profile on a social network, what you share on any of them is no longer under your control.

How should parents behave with their children in relation to the use of social networks?
Talk to your children closely and daily about the responsible use of social media, letting them know that they can count on you for any problems they may have. Learning how to use social networks sensibly. Keep in mind some online tools that can help you in some ways when monitoring Instagram or Facebook profiles.