June 30 (Portaltic/EP) –
Plan correctly the way in which a social network is going to be used and reviewing your privacy settings are key aspects to responsibly using social networks, which have many benefits as long as details like these are taken care of.
Applications like Instagram either TikTok They are often at the centre of controversy for sometimes promoting misinformation or content that affects mental health, in addition to encouraging the overexposure of minors and the digital footprint they generate.
However, there are many ways to benefit from social networks, which can serve as a meeting point with family and friends who are not nearby and have communities of people with whom to share tastes and hobbies.
These apps are also useful for accessing personalized entertainment and online courses or for raising awareness and mobilizing activism in favor of social problems, as Trend Micro recalls in a press release.
However, all this is only possible if responsible practices are carried out to Using networks safelyencouraging open communication at home and generating trust in the little ones so that they feel they can go to their parents or guardians if they have any problems in the digital environment.
Thus, it is advisable to have frequent communication with minors, in order to know what activities they carry out and act accordingly when it occurs. a situation that could harm them.
It is also a good idea to draw up a family plan for using social media, discuss limits and agree on rules. These include the time at which smartphones or tablets should be turned off. In this regard, experts recommend that children feel involved in conversations about how they use applications, in order to build critical thinking from consensus and not from imposition.
It is essential to review privacy settings as a family to keep children protected. They should also be aware of the risks they are exposed to and the importance of keeping their personal data safe. This way, they will be alert to scams and other forms of online harassment.
It is equally advisable to talk about the importance of fingerprint and that minors be aware that, once something is shared online, it can be almost impossible to completely delete it.
On the other hand, they should be explained the dangers of sharing too much personal information and why they should not share, for example, their phone numbers, addresses or personal photos. In this regard, they should be told that images contain metadata with sensitive information such as location.
Parents and children must also learn together to deactivate the location services of applications, in which it is not advisable to share images that could give a clue about where they are on vacation – that license plates or specific addresses appear – to someone with bad intentions, who can easily know their whereabouts.
RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATION
It also doesn’t hurt to bet on so-called digital citizenship, that is, teaching children and adolescents to be kind and empathetic on their social networks, as well as giving them tools to manage unpleasant behaviors.
As far as parents are concerned, it is best to be familiar with the type of platforms their children use, to know the minimum or recommended age for these services and the potential risks they present.
Parental control tools and monitoring software must also be used to monitor the online activities of minors, something that large companies have already thought of by offering tools such as TikTok tutors guidethe Instagram family hub, Google Family Link or YouTube Family.
Accessing content that promotes misinformation is one of the main risks posed by social networks, reason enough for parents and guardians to teach children to question what they see on the Internet and to be cautious when spreading misleading news or videos.
If doing so, it is important that adults know that confiscating devices is not ideal to punish them for it, as this may also discourage the child from coming to them in the future, when they need their help or advice. That way, it is better to teach them consequences beyond punishment and encourage better behavior in the future.
We must also lead by example, that is, carry out responsible practices What do you want to teach children?. So, if you want to encourage your child to use their mobile phone less, you should do the same so that they understand that it is the right thing to do.
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