Last Updated on March 8, 2022
Children in the present day and age are digital natives. A time without WiFi or social media is unfathomable for them. Their flair for all sorts of tech things makes them spend countless hours on their smartphones, tablets and other devices.
Selfies and messaging keep them busy almost the whole day. Most of the time parents have no idea what exactly their children are doing on the Internet. All you see is swiping and snapping activities.
Thankfully many apps have been introduced to help you protect your children from digital risks. You can easily download these apps from websites like https://www.mspy.com/instagram.html. These help you monitor your children’s online activities without making them aware of this.
Children and social media trends
Social media has entirely transformed the face of communication. Our children who belong to this era assume this to be the best or only medium of communication. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of social media on children.
Researchers and scientists also believe that children between the age of 8 and 18 sometimes spend nearly eight hours per day on social media. The introduction of face to face interaction apps has even worsened the statistics.
How children hide their online activities from you
Your children are often smarter than you. They find numerous ways to conceal their social media activities from you. Many parents, who do not understand these ways, are convinced to believe that their children are not doing anything wrong.
Here are some common tactics children use to hide their online activities.
- Dimming screen for reducing visibility
- Closing or minimizing tabs or windows
- Using fake downloadable icons to hide objectionable applications
- Deleting messages and chat history
- Deleting browser history
- Avoiding accessing their handles in common areas
- Using apps that makes messages disappear
Moderating digital risks that your children might face
There is no doubt that children today are smart. However, they still go through the traditional dilemmas and insecurities. They often fall prey to the pitfalls like cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and debilitating behavior.
If you have any doubt that your children might be facing any such issues, the first thing to do is to stay involved. Here are some measures you can take to stay connected with your children and save them from digital threats.
- Monitor their internet presence
Many parents resort to the software which allows them to access their children’s social media and emails. You can also read deleted messages. Another way to stay involved is to befriend or follow your children on social media.
It keeps you updated about their activities and trends. It can be of great help to bridge the generation gap.
- Begin the conversation about digital interactions
Conversations and guidance should start at a young age. Lay down a strong foundation and then build on it as they grow. You can educate them about bullying, sexism, digital reputation, etc.
- Instill superior social media skills
This is a crucial step in ensuring your children’s safety and success in today’s digital age. Teach them about private setting adjustments, oversharing, dangers of talking to strangers. It is a preventing measure that also empowering them to voice against harassment or any unpleasant activity.