Our children are growing up in an age of social media overload, but how can we as parents police it"
The need for parents to be vigilant about internet safety is well known, but as the world of social media is increasingly being accessed by children still in primary school, a whole new list of online issues has arisen.
According to a recent study by Internet Matters, 43% of children aged between 10 and 13 now use social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, and 86% of children aged seven to 11 use some kind of online communication, often without their parents? knowledge.
Indeed, the NSPCC is urging parents to make online awareness as much a priority as road safety, as their recent survey showed that less that a fifth of parents discussed this vitally important topic with their eight to 13 year olds. ?Parents are the first port of call for a child when it comes to staying safe in real life and this is no different when it comes to their online life,? explains Claire Lilley, head of child safety online at the NSPCC.
?Talking to your child and exploring their online world with them is the best way to keep them safe but it can be hard to keep up to speed with the internet, and some topics can feel more difficult than others.?
Indeed, it can seem like uncharted waters for many mums and dads who may not even have a social media account themselves, let alone know how to navigate the many complex issues around their children?s use.
For example, many adult...