As social media and online safety are two things close to my heart I wanted to put together a bit of a resource round-up and some tips on what you can do to help keep your kids safe on social media.

Some of this advice is more towards teens but I have added some useful info in there for younger children too.

Netsafe New Zealand has some great Social Media advice for Parents as well as some great resources including an online gaming safety toolkit.

Department of Internal Affairs (NZ) also has some great resources here – www.dia.govt.nz/Social-media-platforms

If your kids are a similar age to mine then these two will be especially helpful:

How to keep your child safe on Roblox – Roblox-Factsheet

How to keep your child safe on YouTube Kids – YouTube-Kids-Factsheet

We use Google Family Link to manage and monitor the kid’s iPads.

They also have resources on Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

If you’re struggling with an online issue you can get advice and support for dealing with a range of situations from watching porn to sending/receiving nudes to bullying. There are sections for youth, parents and educators – www.keepitrealonline.govt.nz

If you, or someone you know, has been harmed online, Netsafe is there to provide the support you need.

Call toll-free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723)

Email help@netsafe.org.nz

Complete an Online Harm Report here – https://report.netsafe.org.nz/hc/en-au/requests/new

Text ‘Netsafe’ to 4282

Netsafe’s contact centre is available 7 days a week from 8am – 8pm on weekdays and 9am – 5pm at weekends and public holidays. Our Peak periods are between 10am and 2pm each day.

Sextortion is on the rise here and New Zealand Police shared some really helpful information about it recently.

Here are some useful tips to help keep your child/teen safe on social media:

Teach your child about sharing information responsibly – For example, don’t share personal details, such as a home address, phone number and school. Use privacy settings to prevent a stranger from contacting your child. Privacy settings are SO important. Parents – this is your reminder to check your own too!

Educate yourself – First and foremost, educate yourself on the social media platforms your teen is using. Understand the risks and potential dangers associated with each platform, and keep up to date on any new developments or trends. Check the age requirements, for example, most social media sites are for children over 13 (which is too young in my opinion!)

Set boundaries – Work with your teen to set clear boundaries for their social media use, including limits on screen time, content, and interactions. Establish consequences for breaking these rules. For example, they give their devices to you overnight and agree that you approve any apps.

Monitor their activity – Regularly check your teen’s social media accounts to see what they are posting and who they are interacting with. Consider using parental controls or monitoring apps to help keep track of their activity.

Talk to them about the risks – Have honest and open conversations with your teen about the risks associated with social media, including cyberbullying, online predators, and the potential impact on mental health. Make sure your child understands what can happen — For example, their posts can be shared and or/altered to bully them.

Encourage positive behaviour – Encourage your teen to use social media in a positive and responsible way. Encourage them to think critically about the content they post and share, and to be respectful of others online.

Build trust – Establish an open and trusting relationship with your teen. Encourage them to come to you if they experience any issues or problems related to social media.

Remember, having difficult conversations with your teen about social media can be challenging, but it’s important to do so in order to keep them safe. Approach these conversations with an open mind, and be willing to listen to your teen’s perspective. By taking an active role in your teen’s social media use, you can help mitigate the risks and ensure they have a positive online experience.