There is a lot of advice now for the many questions that parents might have. By clicking here you will find some websites that might have the answer you need. We also have some answers below to get you started.
What do I do when my child knows more about these applications and the internet than I do?
Firstly there is no substitution for exploring the apps yourself but that is not always possible in our busy lives. There are helpful information sheets available here and we would recommend downloading the Safer Schools Application to your smartphone. They have people constantly looking at different applications and how best to keep young people safe. They will also send out notifications to warn of any current dangerous trends.
It is also important to have positive and enquiring conversations with your young person. Ask them about the app, why they like it and maybe even ask them to show you how to use it. Although they might know more about the workings of the internet or the application itself you will be able to apply your life skills, of keeping data safe, not engaging with strangers, spotting falsehoods and keeping reputations safe, and introduce that as part of the conversation.
When should I let my child have a social media account such as Facebook, Snapchat etc.....?
There is no easy answer for this. Most social media applications require users to be 13 years old or older before they can have an account. However they currently do not have a means of verifying their age so users have the ability to falsify their birthdate in order to get an account. This introduces a new danger as many companies have additional safety settings in place for accounts where the user is between the ages of 13 and 18. The most important thing to remember is that you want to have that conversation with them about your concerns and, as the persons who know your young person best, if they are ready for entering that part of the online world.
It is also important that if they do have an account that it is set up with your knowledge and that you are able to monitor activity on it to ensure they are safe and having a positive experience. Additionally we would recommend that you have a conversation about what to do if they see or receive anything inappropriate via social media. This is a big decision to take and not one that should be rushed. Gather all the information you can and make the decision you can feel comfortable with.
How much screen time is too much screen time?
This is a question that is being asked more and more. Again there is no right or wrong answer and we need to bear in mind that the online world is a part of our young peoples lives and isn't going to go away. A recommended approach is to not dictate to young people that they "have been on long enough" or "switch off that thing" but to teach them the warning signs. The current average is roughly 28 to 35 hours a week, or four to five hours a day, on digital devices during term time, not including school computing lessons. Ask them to compare their usage to that figure and ask them if their phone ever gets too hot to touch or they get migraines from looking at a screen too long (both warning signs of over use).
Most devices now come with screen time settings which not only show you a break down of daily and weekly usage but also allow you to set time limits for when the device or certain applications can be used. Put those figures into context for them. For example they might be spending as much as 1 day in 7 on their device or more time on a certain application than they spend in school. They might not realise how many hours they spend on an app until you compare it to something more tangible like the hours spent sleeping a week.
Before asking someone to end their time on a device ask them what they are doing. Very often they might be waiting for something or in the case of gaming can only save their progress when they reach a certain point. Ask them to let you know what they are waiting for and help them to think about how important that is. You can find more top tips, such as not having deivces in bedrooms and putting on do not disturb setting, in the Parent Information Leaflets - Managing Screen time.
Should I let my child play a game that has an age rating higher than their actual age?
Very often young people will describe feeling left out because all their friends, or everyone at school, have game or an application with a high age rating. Firstly you might find this is not accurate. Try reaching out to other parents to see how many of them actually have the game or application. Then check the game out for yourself. Common Sense Media have information about different games etc... as well as reviews and information from other parents and children. What you need to bear in mind is that the games or applications have an age rating for a reason and you should know what those reasons are before making the purchase. Make sure you are comfortable with the experience your child will have, what they might be exposed to and how likely are they to interact with strangers and in what context.