How would your child handle a situation where a friend of a friend asks them to send a photo? Or if they see an article that makes them so angry they just want to share it right away?įor older kids, approach them with curiosity and interest. Elgersma suggests that parents go through their own social media feeds with their children before they are old enough to be online and have open discussions on what they see.
#Home alone 4 common sense media free
While the decision is a personal one that depends on each child and parent, some experts say this could lead to isolating kids, who could be left out of activities and discussions with friends that take place on social media or chat services.Īnother hurdle - kids who have never been on social media may find themselves ill-equipped to navigate the platforms when they are suddenly allowed free rein the day they turn 18. Some tech executives, celebrities such as Jennifer Garner and parents from all walks of life have resorted to banning their kids from social media altogether. "Developers need to start building apps with kids in mind," she said. Companies have added some safeguards over the years, Elgersma noted, but these are piecemeal changes, not fundamental rethinks of the services.
And the apps popular with teens today were created for adults first. The problem? There's no easy way to verify a person's age when they sign up for apps and online services. The laws currently being proposed include blanket bans on the under-13 set when it comes to social media. But, she added, "13 is probably not the best age for kids to get on social media." "There is not necessarily a magical age," said Christine Elgersma, a social media expert at the nonprofit Common Sense Media. IF THE LAW WON'T BAN KIDS, SHOULD PARENTS? But neither social media companies nor the government have done anything concrete to increase the age limit. There's bullying, harassment, the risk of developing eating disorders, suicidal thoughts or worse.įor years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones - and access to social media - until they are older, such as the "Wait Until 8th" pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until the 8th grade, or about age 13 or 14. But times have changed, and online privacy is no longer the only concern when it comes to kids being online.
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