Are you worried about your child using social media?

Parental concern about online safety is nothing new; social media is at the forefront of many parents’ concerns due to the dangers that are often reported. Especially when new platforms are released or become more and more popular in a short period, this can be concerning.

In a recent survey, OnBuy.com asked parents of children under 17 how they feel about their children using social media. The survey of 1,862 parents found that the music-based app TikTok worries parents the most, with 84% concerned about their children’s habits on the platform. 92% of parents believe TikTok needs to do more to make the app safer for children, as only 33% believe their child is safe using the platform.

Other apps that worry parents include Instagram (81%), YouTube (55%), and Snapchat (54%).

A staggering 89% of parents fear for their children’s safety online, however, 67% still let their children take their phone to bed, where they are unattended and unmonitored. Of the parents surveyed, 39% find it difficult to moderate their child’s watch time, and nearly one in four do not monitor their social media usage at all.

Interestingly, 24% are unsure whether their child’s social media is set to private, while only 64% of parents are certain their child has a locked / private account.

The survey asked parents to rank their greatest fears with their children posting content online. The results are as follows:

1. Predators
2. Sexual Exploitation / Explicit Content
3. Cyber ​​bullying
4. Dangerous viral challenges
5. Dangerous propaganda
6. Payment in virtual currency
7. Animal abuse

Google’s search trend analysis reveals that searches for ‘TikTok safe’ are three times higher than in June 2019, showing that security concerns have skyrocketed. Over time, it is evident that parents fear TikTok’s safety more than Snapchat; TikTok’s security research has overtaken Snapchat and is in the process of switching Twitter.

Sam Barnard, the parent of an 8-year-old girl, shares her experiences with TikTok and social media in general:

“So many of my son’s friends have their phones and we have noticed a growing interest in TikTok. By the time the students meet their parents at the school gates at 3.15pm, the phone is handed back. by updating their feeds and scrolling through social media.

“We looked at the TikTok accounts of some of my son’s colleagues and were shocked, to say the least. The video that really impressed me was a classmate posting a video of her walking home, as she walked in and then he walked around the house, all showing his face, the door number and the street.

“It really worries me because I am aware of the dangers that social media has among children, especially among 8 and 9 year olds.”

Can we use social media forever?

Safety is, of course, a justified and understandable concern of many parents. If you feel concerned about your child’s use of social media, one way to relieve anxiety is to explore the topic of online safety with them.

Counseling Directory has some great resources to help with this:

But that’s not all bad when it comes to social media. There are people trying to prove that we can use these platforms forever, even to help improve our mental health.

One example is Dr. Julie Smith, a member of the Council List. Not everyone has access to a psychologist’s therapy room for mental health support, so Dr. Smith offers help to people via TikTok. He hopes that by sharing the guide he can help people help themselves.