7 Habits of Smart Parents for Managing Kids’ Social Media Presence

Social media has become an integral part of today’s youth culture. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook allow children and teens to connect, share, and express themselves. However, as wonderful as social media can be, it also presents various challenges and potential risks. Many parents feel overwhelmed by the fast-paced world of social media, and it's natural to have concerns about your child's online safety, privacy, and well-being.

This guide aims to provide parents with practical tips and insights on how to manage and protect their children’s social media presence without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Understanding Social Media Platforms and Privacy Controls

Each social media platform has unique privacy settings, and it’s crucial to understand how these work to keep your child’s information secure.

Instagram: Instagram allows users to set their accounts to “Private,” which limits content visibility only to approved followers. Make sure location services are turned off for photos to prevent automatic location tagging. Additionally, Instagram has a feature called “Close Friends” that allows users to share stories only with a select group of friends, adding another layer of privacy.

TikTok: TikTok has several settings for privacy and safety. Parents can enable “Private Account” mode, allowing only approved followers to see their child’s videos. The “Family Pairing” feature is also helpful as it allows parents to connect their own TikTok account with their child’s, enabling them to set screen time limits, restrict direct messaging, and control inappropriate content.

Facebook: On Facebook, users can limit who sees their posts by adjusting the audience setting to “Friends Only.” It’s advisable to disable location tracking and avoid using “Check-In” features that broadcast real-time locations. Facebook also allows you to control who can send friend requests, which is useful to restrict unknown people from contacting your child.

Snapchat: Snapchat has specific privacy controls such as the “Ghost Mode” in Snap Maps, which hides the user’s location. Users can also customise their privacy settings to determine who can send them Snaps and view their Stories. Another critical setting is “Who Can Contact Me” which should be set to “Friends Only” to avoid unwanted contact from strangers.

By familiarising yourself with each platform's privacy settings, you can have open discussions with your child on the importance of maintaining privacy online.

2. Talk to Your Child About Online Permanence

One of the most challenging concepts for children to understand is that anything shared on the internet is likely permanent, even if it appears temporary. Photos, videos, or comments shared online are stored on servers, and someone can easily take screenshots. Make sure your child understands that deleting a post does not guarantee it disappears forever. Educate them on the importance of thinking before posting and the potential consequences of sharing too much personal information or inappropriate content.

Encourage them to ask themselves questions like:

• “Would I be okay if this post was seen by my teachers or future employers?”
• “Am I sharing any personal details that could identify my location?”

Teaching children to consider the long-term impact of their posts helps instil responsibility and caution in their online behaviour.

3. Encourage Responsible Use of Hashtags

Hashtags are a double-edged sword in the social media world. While they can help your child connect with others who share similar interests, hashtags also expose posts to a wider audience, including strangers. Discuss with your child the importance of using hashtags wisely. For example:

• Avoid using popular, broad hashtags that attract a vast number of users, such as #fun or #cool.
• Stick to specific or community-based hashtags if they want to connect with certain groups without broadcasting their content to everyone.

Additionally, teach them not to use hashtags that might inadvertently give away their location, school name, or other identifying information.

4. Implement Strong Privacy Practices and Online Etiquette

Having a strong privacy foundation and encouraging respectful online behaviour can help keep children safer on social media. Here are some privacy practices and etiquette tips to consider:

• Avoid Accepting Friend Requests from Strangers: Help your child understand that it’s essential to only connect with people they know in real life. An unknown friend request could be from someone with malicious intentions, like a scammer or cyberbully.
• Review Friends List Regularly: Encourage your child to regularly check their friends list and remove any contacts they don’t recognise or no longer interact with. This is a practical way to ensure they’re only connected with trusted individuals.
• Practice “Safe Selfies”: Teach your child to be mindful of the background in their photos. A selfie taken in front of their school sign or home address can unintentionally reveal private information to strangers. Encourage them to take photos in neutral locations that don’t disclose personal details.

5. Set Boundaries for Screen Time and Social Media Usage

Social media can be addictive, leading to excessive screen time. To promote healthy habits, consider setting boundaries around the time your child spends online.

• Screen Time Limits: Many devices have built-in parental controls or apps like Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time, or TikTok's Family Pairing that allow parents to set time restrictions on apps. Start with a reasonable daily limit and adjust it based on your child’s needs.
• Encourage Tech-Free Time: Create tech-free zones and times, such as during family meals or before bedtime. This not only helps reduce social media consumption but also fosters face-to-face interactions and strengthens family connections.

By setting clear boundaries, you can help your child develop a balanced approach to technology usage that won’t interfere with their well-being.

6. Teach Children About Cyberbullying and Reporting

Cyberbullying is a pervasive issue on social media platforms, and it's essential to prepare your child for dealing with it should it arise. Explain to them what cyberbullying looks like, whether it's mean comments, exclusion, or spreading rumours. Encourage them to come to you if they experience or witness bullying online.

Most social media platforms have built-in tools for reporting inappropriate content:

• Instagram: You can report posts, comments, or profiles directly through the app. Instagram also has a feature that lets users restrict comments from specific people.
• Facebook: Facebook has a “Report” option for posts and profiles, and parents can report accounts on behalf of their child if they experience harassment.
• TikTok: TikTok provides options to report videos, comments, or messages. The platform also has a setting to block users.

Empowering your child with knowledge about reporting mechanisms on each platform can help them feel more in control if they encounter cyberbullying.

7. Model Good Social Media Behaviours

As a parent, remember that your social media habits can influence your child’s. Model the kind of behaviour you’d like your child to adopt. This could include:

• Avoiding oversharing personal details online.
• Respecting others’ privacy by not tagging people without permission.
• Practicing kindness and respect in online interactions.

When children see responsible online behaviour modelled at home, they are more likely to adopt these practices themselves.

Final Thoughts: Stay Engaged and Informed

Navigating the world of social media can be daunting, but staying informed and involved can make a world of difference. Regularly check in with your child about their social media experience and create an environment where they feel comfortable discussing any challenges they face online.

By guiding your child through these steps and setting clear expectations, you can help them enjoy the positive aspects of social media while staying safe. Social media doesn’t have to be a source of stress—when managed thoughtfully, it can be a valuable tool for learning, self-expression, and connection.

Elizabeth Ann

Community Ambassador; as someone who was raised in a rather privileged family, I hope to address the inequity in educational outcomes based on the circumstance of birth. Bounced around between Australia and Singapore a fair bit.