When you purchase an iPhone it comes with instant access to social media, as well as a small army of apps already installed, with hundreds more available to download. Each app is unique in its security and features. This wave of social media and app usage has opened a whole new world of communication technology, and it’s a world youths are very invested in. As a parent, navigating this world can be challenging and confusing, especially if you don’t know how it affects your child. But it’s never too late to learn.

Most teenagers today are using: Facebook and Facebook Messenger, YouTube, Vine, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tinder and Tumblr on a regular basis. These apps are primarily used for video and photo sharing and instant messaging.

As a parent, it is important for you to know what social media and apps your child is using and understand the features that each offers. Below are some suggestions for how parents might educate themselves about various social media and apps.

Step 1: Do your own research on how these apps work, and the dangers associated with each. Most social media sites, like Facebook, have Help Centers with frequently asked questions and informative sections on safety, security and usage.

Step 2: Educate your child about the dangers that come hand-in-hand with the age of the Internet. These dangers include: the pressures of “sexting,” Internet predators, cyberbullying and more.

Sexting:

The app Snapchat, where users share photos and videos that quickly expire, is surrounded by controversy. This app seems to have provided an excuse for “sexting.” Sexting, which is sharing sexually explicit images or videos with others, is more popular than ever, especially over Snapchat. Users feel safe knowing the images will expire, but they shouldn’t. Not only can photos be saved with “screen shots,” but all photos and videos sent are saved on the Snapchat database, which in 2014 was hacked. Make sure your teenager knows that anything sent into cyberspace is irretrievable. The 2014 iCloud hack, which leaked many celebrity nude photos, taught us that even saving images for personal use, and not sharing them, doesn’t mean they will never be seen. The best way to keep someone from seeing a private or sensitive photo: don’t take it in the first place.

Internet Predators:

Not everyone on the Internet is who they say. Together with your child, check the security settings on their social media sites and insist the “don’t talk to strangers rule” still applies. This includes not accepting anyone on Facebook or other social media who they don’t know personally.

Cyberbullying:

Some youths use the Internet as a tool to harass peers. According to CyberBullyHotline, 4500 youths commit suicide every year due to cyberbullying. There are many websites, social media sites and apps that make cyberbullying all too easy, providing an anonymous channel for ridicule.

Step 3: Know the harmful apps. Omegle is an app which encourages anonymous users to talk to other anonymous strangers. Fess is an app which lets users anonymously post within high school communities, often bad-mouthing fellow classmates. Apps like Burn note, Whisper, Yik Yak, Ask.fm, are anonymous and have been heavily associated with cyberbullying, while apps like Tinder and Down are used widely as “hook up” or one-night stand apps. You can learn more about each of these apps here or here.

Step 4: If it’s necessary, take action. If you believe your child isn’t safe or is becoming a victim online, it may be time to intervene. The best thing to do is keep open communication with your child. Set rules and limits for app and social media usage together, and discuss each other’s opinions on online safety, sexting and cyberbullying.

There are many apps that help parents monitor and censor their child’s social media use. A free app called MobSafety Ranger Browser allows you to ban and approve websites, and lets you monitor what your child is searching. Qustodio is an app created to help parents maintain and monitor their child’s social media and app usage, while allowing the parent to ban certain apps and content.

If you want to read more about apps tailored to help parents manage their child’s online life, you can check them out here.

If you have any questions or would like to talk to a family therapist, reach out to us at Family & Child Development.