Are the things your children are watching on social media safe? This is the first question each parent or guardian is worried about when giving a mobile or device to their children. Why? Because we all know what type of content is easily accessible on the internet nowadays. And let’s face the truth: a single question, “Are you 18 years old?” is not enough to stop them from accessing websites. The same goes for social media, where there is no content warning. You scroll and don’t know what will appear next in your feed. So, what is the solution to this? How can we prevent our children from seeing what we don’t want them to see? And what are these Billion Dollar Companies doing to address this issue?
Problem vs Solution:
Before talking about the solution, we must understand what the problem is and why it is really important to keep our children away from the type of content we don’t want them to see. Actually, there are too many people online, so-called content creators, creating and uploading this type of content, which is concerning for parents, but for them, it’s just fun, or for some of them, it’s their source of income. If you want to stop your children from watching such content, you first have to identify the type of people creating this content and look for the factors that are driving them to do this. Is it a lack of attention from their parents in the past? Or has it developed in them because of the society they live in and the people who influence them? Or is it just their negative desire for money, meaning they don’t care how they earn it; they just want money? So, where did it all start? The vulgarity, the so-called 18+ content, and the way to earn money by posting your body.
Where It All Started:
Actually, the first move toward this was the camera. Then women came on screens, which slowly over the century led us to pornography and all the other inappropriate things like what influencers are doing nowadays on social media. The first porn daguerreotype appeared in 1850 and with the advent of “moving pictures” by the Lumière brothers the first porn film was made soon after the public exhibition of their creation. Again, in the 20th century saw the rise of “blue movies,” starting with silent films in the 1920s and continuing into the post-war era as film technology advanced and became more affordable for consumers. And lastly in late nineties the pornographic media availability to the public became easy and cheaper. And as we all know then the era of internet came around which make it easiest for normal peoples have access to these types of content. Was it only the creators responsible for this? The simple answer is NO! Everyone was responsible, including governments and those people who already knew about this but hadn’t raised their voices at time.
How Keep Your Children Safe Online?
For a parent, the only thing that concerns them is the safety of their child, whether it’s what they are watching or how they are acting towards others. To make sure your kids are safe online concern reading these points:
Talk Early, Talk Often:
- Start small chats about online safety and body awareness while they’re young. Adjust the details as they grow.
- Be their safe space: Build trust so they come to you with doubts and worries, no judgment allowed.
- Listen with open ears and an open mind. Answer their questions honestly and clearly, keeping their age in mind.
Tech Toolbox:
- Put parental controls on everything from YouTube to video games. They limit content, set time limits, and even track activity.
- Consider internet filters to block out nasty stuff, but remember, they’re not perfect. Keep the real talk rolling!
- Swap Google for Kiddle or Swiggle – child-friendly search engines that keep things age-appropriate.
Build a Safe World:
- Be present in their online life, especially when they’re young. Explore websites and apps together, guiding them towards good stuff.
- Give them access to awesome online resources that are both fun and educational – games, activities, the whole shebang!
- Talk about everything they find online, good and bad. Help them learn to think critically and evaluate information.
Lead by Example:
- Show them what responsible tech use looks like. Be mindful of your own online behavior in front of them.
- Set healthy screen time limits for everyone, including yourself. There’s a whole world out there beyond screens!
- Be a good online citizen by respecting others privacy, avoid cyberbullying, and yes always think before you share online.
Beyond You:
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help! Pediatricians, child psychologists, and online safety groups can offer guidance and support.
- Check out resources like Connect Safely, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the Cyberbullying Research Center. They’re full of tips and info!
- Connect with other parents and educators who share your concerns. Sharing makes the parenting journey easier (and maybe even fun!).
Read More: Future Of AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Social Media Role in This:
Why social media is threatening than any other adult site out there? Speaking of the threat it’s not a threat its just that these types of mediums don’t give any warnings regarding what’s we are going to see on them. Social media presents a greater threat than adult sites due to its lack of content warnings. While social media companies are working on safety measures, they have not yet reached a stage where we can deem these platforms completely safe for children.
Some Steps From Meta:
Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook is making its platforms safer for teens. They’re adding stricter rules to protect young users from harmful content like posts about self-harm or eating disorders. However, some people are suing Meta saying the company didn’t warn them enough about the dangers of using its apps. Despite this, Meta is still trying to attract young users, competing with TikTok, which is more popular among teens.
- Meta is hiding more sensitive content to protect teenagers from harmful material.
- It’s making it harder for teens to find content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders on Instagram.
- All teen accounts will have strict content settings by default.
- Even if teens follow accounts with sensitive content, those posts will be removed from their feeds.
- These changes aim to provide a safer and age-appropriate experience for teens.
- Meta is responding to global pressure and legal challenges regarding its impact on youth mental health.
- The company is also addressing concerns about addictive behavior and its platforms’ effects on teenagers.
Conclusion:
It’s responsibility of parents to protect their kids from harmful content online. By talking openly with them about what to see and what not, using parental controls, and being a good role model, parents can make a difference. No doubt companies are trying hard to protect kids from watching inappropriate content. But in my opinion, they still care more about their profits. Unlike, Meta’s actions to make its platforms safer for teens are a step forward, but everyone needs to work together to keep children safe online.