Social Networking and Young People

Young people’s use of the internet has increased dramatically in recent years, with 96% of 9-16 year olds using the internet daily.  Young people use the internet for a wide range of purposes, from completing school work, communicating with friends to watching videos and playing games.

Social networking sites have played a huge part in changing the way young people interact with others and they use them as a platform to learn, share views and demonstrate their creativity.

However, they could also be vulnerable to many risks and it exposes them to experiences which they may find upsetting such as:

• Bullying online (cyberbullying)
• Sharing too much information
• Vulnerability to predatory adults
• Sharing videos or photographs that they later regret
• Exposure to age-in appropriate material
• Risk of identify theft

General Advice

Young people maybe experts on using the internet, but they still need guidance and protection.  To help keep them safe on social networks, make sure you continue talking about what they are doing online:

• Discuss and agree your expectations before they use any site, app or feature that allows them to communicate.
• Check the minimum age requirements.
• Talk to them about the dangers of oversharing information about themselves that they may regret – teach them to Think Before You Post.
• Encourage them to check the policies and privacy settings on any sites and apps they use.
• Remind them that the same rules apply online as they do at home or school – they shouldn’t post anything they wouldn’t say face-to-face.
• Check that your child knows how to block and report contacts.
• Discuss the use of parental controls.

Popular apps

With the proliferation of tablets and all the benefits they bring, children can potentially become exposed to apps that bring with them a degree of risk due to social networks.  Many are clearly labelled as inappropriate for young people, but some that are can carry dangers: parents need to have a clear view of what apps are installed on their children’s devices, especially as some of the more risky such as Facebook often come pre-installed.

Here is a list of some apps that contain degrees of social networking and a short description with relevant information regarding safeguarding.

Facebook

Instagram

This hugely popular photo-sharing site is owned by Facebook, so you may be more familiar with it than with other photo-sharing apps. Users can add cool filters or create collages of their photos and share them across Facebook and other social media platforms. The app is rated 13+ and may be slightly tamer than Tumblr, but users can still find mature or inappropriate content and comments throughout the app (there is a way to flag inappropriate content for review). “Trolls” — or people making vicious, usually anonymous comments — are common. A user can change the settings to block their location or certain followers, but many users are casual about their settings, connecting with people they don’t know well or at all.

Snapchat

Snapchat is an app that allows users to send photos and videos that disappear from view within 10 seconds after they’re received. It’s rated ages 12+. Some young people are using the app to send risqué pics because they believe the images can’t be saved and circulated. But it turns out that Snapchat pics don’t completely disappear from a device, users can take a screenshot before an image vanishes in the app and other apps link to the Snapchat account and saves the pictures before it’s opened in Snapchat.

YouTube

YouTube is a large online video platform where users can watch, upload and share videos on almost any topic — from music, gaming and vlogs to how-to guides, news and educational content. It offers personalised recommendations and channels you can subscribe to, as well as live streams and community features such as comments.  YouTube is intended for a general audience but its terms normally expect account-holders to be at least 13. For younger children, YouTube Kids or supervised accounts are the safer options.

How children and teenagers should use YouTube

• Younger children (under 13)

  • Use YouTube Kids or a supervised Google account through Family Link.
  • Stick to curated, age-appropriate channels and playlists selected by parents or educators.
  • Co‑watch with an adult where possible and keep devices in communal areas.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a mobile messaging app that lets users send text messages, voice notes, photos, videos and documents, and make voice or video calls. It also supports group chats, status updates and message forwarding. Many people use it for everyday communication because it is free to use over the internet.  It is advised that primary aged children should generally avoid personal WhatsApp use. Consider supervised family accounts or alternative safer apps and keep devices in communal areas.

TikTok

TikTok is a short‑form video platform where users create, share and discover videos — typically 15 seconds to a few minutes long. Content ranges from dance and comedy to education, how‑tos and commentary. The app uses a powerful algorithm to recommend videos based on viewing habits, which can make content highly engaging and personalised.  TikTok’s minimum age is 13. For younger children, a supervised approach or alternative, age‑appropriate apps is safer.

Telegram

Telegram is an instant‑messaging app that lets users send text messages, voice notes, photos, videos and files, create one‑to‑one chats, group chats and public channels, and use bots and voice/video calls. It offers both cloud‑based chats (which sync across devices) and optional Secret Chats with end‑to‑end encryption and self‑destructing messages. Important – Telegram’s minimum recommended age is usually 13. For younger children, supervised use is strongly advised.