We have recently had parents raise concerns with us about group chats and inappropriate material that is being shared amongst children. WhatsApp and TikTok are two phone apps that keep getting raised by children and adults alike! TikTok have a family safety feature which you may be interested in . Find out more here.
Most children have a phone or other mobile device and love spending time on it but this can lead to a range of problems.
We constantly remind people to be aware of what their children are doing and how their devices are being used to make sure that they are happy and protected from harm.
The concerns that have been raised with us include inappropriate language and sexual referencing. This has been from other online sources as well posts from children. Our main concern is that posts have included suggesting people leave a group if their phone is being checked by a parent. Our advice is to frequently check your child's usage and talk to them about it and agree set rules and consequences if this is not kept to.
If you have any doubt about the appropriateness of what your child is exposed to on a device then don't hesitate to remove access to the app. Children don't necessarily have the maturity or experience to adequately deal with inappropriate comments and material and this could have a long term impact on their emotional health.
There are some apps available in America that enable you to monitor mobile device usage without needing to physically check the phone. We are not sure if they are suitable for use in the UK but are looking into this and will forward you details of any recommended providers.
The greatest influence on mobile device usage will always be yours - you provide and pay for their devices! Make sure that you are confident that your child is using it wisely and responsibly and knows what to do should they come across something that may make them (or somebody else) feel uncomfortable.
There is lots of information about safe use of devices online and always suggest NetAware as a good starting point. Click below for the link.
