The importance of ensuring child safety in social media has become one of the main topics of discussion in recent years. While major technology platforms such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Instagram, and TikTok claim to have implemented protective measures, many countries are still trying to establish their own regulations regarding children’s access to the internet.
Although the battle for child safety in social media continues in the United States Congress, many platforms are introducing more and more parental control features to help parents monitor their children’s online activities. Let’s now discuss the options offered by some of these platforms and how parents can make use of these tools.
Instagram introduced several control features in 2023. Families can now create “supervised accounts” in the Parent Center for children aged 13 to 17. This allows parents to control the time their child spends on Instagram, set app usage limits, check which accounts their child follows and which accounts follow them, as well as regulate privacy settings and sensitive content. If the child makes any changes to the settings, they must request approval from the parent.
Facebook, the owner of Instagram, also offers certain protective features. Parents can ensure their children’s safety by adjusting privacy settings on their profiles, setting designated app usage hours, and accessing information about friends, Messenger contacts, artificial intelligence interactions with the child, and time spent on the app.
TikTok, a platform that is increasingly popular among teenagers, is also taking the initiative when it comes to parental control. With the “Family Pairing” feature, parents can monitor their child’s private account, disable comments on posts, restrict messages from strangers, and control the time spent on the app.
However, it is important to note that platforms like Twitter and Discord do not offer dedicated parental control features. In such cases, it is recommended that children follow precautions such as blocking and reporting offensive accounts, limiting the visibility of their posts, and using content filtering features.
In conclusion, despite the efforts made by social media platforms, there is still a need for more advanced control features to protect children from online exploitation. In the meantime, parents should make use of the available tools to best safeguard their children from potential threats in the online world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Child Safety in Social Media:
1. Why is child safety in social media so important?
Child safety in social media is important due to potential threats such as contact with strangers, inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and other dangerous situations. Therefore, it is necessary to take actions to protect children online.
2. Which social media platforms offer parental control features?
Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are platforms that have introduced control features for parents. Instagram allows for the creation of “supervised accounts” and monitoring of a child’s activity on the platform. Facebook, as the owner of Instagram, also offers protective features such as adjusting privacy settings and monitoring a child’s activity. On TikTok, parents can use the “Family Pairing” feature to monitor their child’s account and control messages and app usage time.
3. Are there other social media platforms with parental control features?
Some social media platforms like Twitter and Discord do not offer dedicated parental control features. In such cases, it is recommended that children follow precautions such as blocking and reporting offensive accounts, as well as using content filtering features.
4. What are the potential risks children may encounter in social media?
Children may be exposed to contact with strangers, exploitation by individuals with malicious intentions, sending inappropriate content, cyberbullying, hate speech, blackmail, and other negative experiences online.
5. How can parents protect their children in social media?
Parents should make use of available parental control features on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. It is also important to have conversations with children about online safety, teach them about precautions, and monitor their social media activity.
6. What are the recommendations for child safety in social media on platforms without parental control features?
Children should follow precautions such as blocking and reporting offensive accounts, limiting the visibility of their posts, and using content filtering features. It is also important for parents to be aware of their children’s online activities and have discussions with them about potential risks.
7. What are recommended additional sources of information regarding child safety in social media?
National child safety organizations and specialized websites such as the Polish Safer Internet Centre can be valuable sources of information and advice on child safety in social media.
The source of the article is from the blog girabetim.com.br