Social media
What is social media and what are its pitfalls?
Do you know which social media platforms these images represent?
Tik Tok
What is the legal age to create a Tik Tok account?
13
What is it?
TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to create and share short-form videos on any topic. It’s mainly mobile-based, although you can still watch TikTok videos using the web app. The platform allows users to get creative with their content using filters, stickers, voiceovers, sound effects, and background music.
Threads
What is the legal age to create a Threads account?
13
What is it?
Threads is a text-based conversation app that, according to Meta, is designed to be a space "where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favourite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world."
Snapchat
What is the legal age to create a Snapchat account?
13
What is it?
Snapchat is a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Colloquially, the app is often called Snap by its users.
One of the core concepts of the mobile app is that any picture, video, or message - aka snap - you send by default is made available to the receiver for only a short time before it becomes inaccessible. This temporary or ephemeral nature of the app was originally designed to encourage a more natural flow of interaction.
What is the legal age to create a Whatsapp account?
13
What is it?
WhatsApp Messenger is a free instant messaging app available on both Android and iPhone. It allows you to send text messages to other users one-on-one or in groups. Importantly, WhatsApp chats go over the internet. This contrasts with standard SMS texting, which goes through your phone provider.
Inside chats, WhatsApp has all the features you'd expect from a modern messaging app, including the option to send photos, share your location, search and send GIFs, and similar. In addition to the core texting service, WhatsApp supports voice calls, video calling, and recorded voice messages.
What is the legal age to create an Instagram account?
13
What is it?
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on iPhone and Android. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a selected group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone aged 13 and over can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.
What is the legal age to create a Facebook account?
13
What is it?
Facebook is a website which allows users, who sign-up for free profiles, to connect with friends, work colleagues or people they don’t know, online. It allows users to share pictures, music, videos, and articles, as well as their own thoughts and opinions with however many people they like.
Users send “friend requests” to people who they may – or may not – know.
Once accepted, the two profiles are connected with both users able to see whatever the other person posts. “Facebookers” can post almost anything to their “timeline”, a snapshot of what is happening in their social circle at any given time, and can also enter private chat with other friends who are online.
X
What is the legal age to create an X account?
13
What is it?
X is a social media site, and its primary purpose is to connect people and allow people to share their thoughts with a big audience. X allows users to discover stories regarding today's biggest news and events, follow people or companies that post content they enjoy consuming, or simply communicate with friends. Additionally, PR teams and marketers can use X to increase brand awareness and delight their audience.
The laws around sexting
If you are under 18, it is against the law to: take, have or distribute a sexual photo; this includes a selfie. have or pass on indecent images of someone under 18. encourage or incite someone to take or send 'sexts'
The positives of social media
There are many good things about social media:
a way to connect with friends and family
make arrangements with friends
share funny stories and pictures
gives you memories to look back on
comment positively on others posts
you can keep your account private and be selective about who you interact with
The negatives of social media
There are many negatives about social media:
people hide behind social media posts and make very unkind comments
some social media posts disappear so cannot be traced
people send inappropriate images across social media
if you dont keep your account private anyone can view and comment on your posts
Our recommendations
make a phone contract with your child when they get their phone so everyone is clear of rules of use (see below)
do not let your children download apps that are not age appropriate
check your child's phone regularly so you can see content
remind your child about the laws around appropriate messaging
What is a Parent-Child Phone Contract?
This written contract between you and your child details how everyone will behave around their phone. It outlines your child’s privileges and your own commitment to support their safety and privacy, and it contains a plan for when things go wrong.
We recommend collaborating on this contract with your tween. Giving them some say about the limits imposed means they’re more likely to follow the rules. They can’t claim they were unaware or didn’t understand the rules if they took part in negotiating them.
Also, make sure you write all the terms down and have everyone sign the agreement. People tend to forget details of conversations. Writing the contract eliminates ambiguity. Your signatures are your intentions to abide by your promises.
Five Clauses for a Phone Contract for Kids
(1) Definitions
In this section, define who is participating in the contract. Include your name, your child’s name, any other adults involved in the agreement, parents living in another household, blended families, single parents, grandparents, etc. The more complete this section is, the less room you leave for misunderstanding later.
(2) Your Commitments
Collaborate with your teen here, so they know your investment and commitment to this deal goes beyond just giving them a device. For example, if they surrender their phone every night at 8 p.m., you promise to return the phone by 8 the next morning.
Make as many commitments as you find relevant, but we recommend at least these two:
You pay for the phone and service (which gives you ownership and authority over the phone).
Have a “Bat Signal” where you promise to come to the rescue if you receive a certain texted code, with no yelling or “I told you so’s.”
(3) Usage Restrictions
Every family has different needs, but we recommend at least these three rules for safety:
No bedroom, no bathroom. Keep phone use where you can watch body language for signs of trouble.
No nudes, no sexting. No sending or requesting sexually suggestive, nude, or semi-nude photos, images, or text messages. If they receive one, they should delete it immediately and let you know about it so you can decide whether to report it and block the number.
Down times. A list of times or events (like after 9 p.m., and during meals), when the family doesn’t use their phones.
(4) Consequences
Be sure to cover what happens when somebody breaks the contract. Be creative and meaningful with your consequences, keeping a few things in mind. And make sure to include your tween in the conversation about setting consequences.
Don’t make losing the phone your go-to. This makes kids sneaky with their phones rather than encouraging them to follow the rules. Extra chores or fines work better.
Set consequences for yourself and follow them, but make them fun. Your teen picking the music for your next trip in the car, or choosing a restaurant to go to, are good examples.
When you enforce the consequences, refer to the contract. Make the conversation how you, as a team, will navigate what the agreement says.
(5) Amendments
Write down how you will alter the contract as situations change. Consider building in renegotiation periods. A perfect agreement for a 12-year-old won’t work for a 14-year-old.
