# What Are Your Kids Really Doing on Facey?

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/family/parenting/what-are-your-kids-really-doing-on-facey/
- Published: 2015-08-31T12:04:42+10:00
- Author: Frances Klein

## _The discussion�surrounding�the�age children should enter the world of social media is not new. _

While the minimum for most social media platforms is 13, a number of parents are
plugging their young children in before reaching that milestone, under the guise
they can keep an eye on them.

But experts are sending a warning to parents whose intentions are to monitor their
children’s online behaviour this way.

Cyber Safety advisor Jeremy Blackman, of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, said
children are very good at hiding on social media platforms and parents may be unaware
of what actually goes on.

Children as young as 10 and 11 are engaging on social networks, which Mr Blackman
believes is a danger because children under 13�are not developed enough socially
or emotionally to cope.

When 500 children aged between eight and 12 were surveyed by technology company 
McAfee it found more than two-thirds were on Facebook in 2013,�despite the minimum
age for a user being 13.

[⌊Kids on social media | stay at home mum⌉⌊Kids on social media | stay at home mum⌉[

## Dodging the age restrictions

The survey discovered children found ways to�dodge�the age restrictions, but in 
most cases the youngsters were given access by their parents.�The survey also revealed
that more than 20 per cent of children in that age bracket were publishing photos
of themselves on photo-sharing website Instagram and spending up to 1.5 hours on
internet-enabled devices each day.

Mr Blackman believes many parents are misguided in believing if they use the network
themselves they can keep an eye on their children by “friending” them online. Mr
Blackman said parents need to be aware children can use private messaging and anonymous
messaging apps to hide their activity so it can give parents a false�sense of security.

This follows an estimation that one in five young Australians is a victim of cyber-
bullying. This can come in the form of blocking, excluding, messaging, identity 
theft or creating fake profiles and it can have a lasting effect that can damage
a child in a variety of ways.

[⌊Kids on social media | stay at home mum⌉⌊Kids on social media | stay at home mum⌉[

## The risks

While parents believe they can watch their kids’ activities on social media, a multitude
of things can go unnoticed.� And while it is unnoticed, experts believe it is likely
to stay that way because children don’t like talking about their negative experiences
in case they are denied access to it.

“If kids feel like the technology is going to be banned from them, or their parents
don’t trust them, they won’t see the early signs that something might be wrong,”
Mr Blackman said.

Mr Blackman’s key message for parents is to keep communicating openly with children
about what your expectations are for your child when they use social media. Experts
say it is good to remind them to be�polite,stay positive with posts, choose photographs
carefully and only chat to people they know.

###### Featured Image via�ipghoster.wordpress.com

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/554afacb1049de70304e5821b02cae2e4075709cde451f37246b9af31fad3c8d?
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 Frances Klein

 A journalist by trade, Frances has joined Stay at Home Mum as executive editor,
to connect with others in the ever-expanding and exciting online world. Frances 
has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Creative Writing, from the Queensland University
of Technology and her time as a feature writer, court reporter and journalist at
award-winning daily The Gympie Times, taught her how to grab the here and now with
both hands and craft stories of relevance and precision. As a mother of four, she's
changed a few nappies and tied a few shoes in her time and now with a teenager in
the house has rolled more than a few eyes (in pure reciprocation). She loves meeting
new people, chasing a good story and learning just a little bit about everything.

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