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Social media
facts & advice

Get expert tips to support children

 

SOCIAL MEDIA APPS MIN AGE

We’ve created a hub of advice to help your family navigate the risks and rewards that social media can bring.

What are parent’s concerns with social media?

Socialising safely online

With 47% of 3-10-year-olds owning a mobile, it’s important to stay on top of who and what they do when they are socialising online. For further information and support, click here.

Adult-rated platforms & apps

Most parents/carers aren’t aware of what type of platforms kids can access from their devices, making them susceptible to a host of risks like online grooming and sexual abuse.
Most apps are not suitable for very young children unless they’re made specifically for them. Check out our minimum age for the most popular apps.

Online spending

With gaming apps like Roblox and Among Us all the rage right now, in-game spending on tokens, for example, is so too. Check out our in-game spending guide where you will find out more about the types of spending that children can be exposed to when playing their favourite online games.

Fake news and misinformation

Research shows us that only 2% of children and young people in the UK have the critical literacy skills they need to tell whether a news story is real or fake. To help kids combat fake news and misinformation, click here.

Privacy/data concerns

Just like adults, children may be at risk of having their online identity stolen and misused. Get practical tips and advice on how to combat the misuse of privacy and data here.

Cyberbullying/Trolling

Start a conversation with your child to protect and equip them to tackle cyberbullying with our cyberbullying conversation age guides.

You can also download our useful advice guide, what online hate is, and how to support your child.

Excessive screen time

Screen time can offer children opportunities to learn and develop new skills at a touch of a button but like anything, too much of it can have a negative effect on their wellbeing. Click here to download our balancing screen time guide.

Scams/hacking

Learn more about how social media can influence young people’s spending habits and how to equip them with the skills to recognise social media scams.

Sending/receiving nudes

With concerns raised about how social media and tech play a role in teens sharing images, our Internet Matters expert panel provides their advice on teens and sexting, sending, and sharing nudes.

*Based on survey results the following were concerns of roughly 4,000 parents and carers of children aged between 0-14+ year-olds.

See UKCIS social media practical guide for parents and carers

Social media privacy how-to guides

Take a look at our most popular social media guides to get you up to speed on the most popular platforms and help them set the right privacy settings.

Other sections in the social media guide

  • Social Media Basics
    See advice on what you need to know to help your child navigate social media sites safely.
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    5 minutes read
  • Social Media Benefits
    Learn how you can help teens make social media work for them so they can benefit from it as they grow.
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    7-10 minutes read
  • Social Media Concerns
    Get advice on what potential risks to watch out for if your child is using social and how to protect them.
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    10 minutes read
  • Social Media Resources
    See a list of organisations that can support you and your child.
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    2 minutes read
  • Navigating Social Media Safely
    Get tools and tips to support your child’s digital wellbeing on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
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    12 minutes read
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