Parents must set rules when your children get their social media accounts. Read these must-have tips to keep children safe on social media.

In all reality, it’s genuinely against the Children’s Online Privacy Act to have any child under 13 get a social media account without explicit parental consent. This means many social media platforms have implemented a rule that any child who has an account on their platform must be at least 13 years old.

While many parents and children have found ways around this rule, it’s essential to discuss what you expect from your children regarding social media accounts. Regardless of what age you allow your child to get a social media account, these are some of the must-have rules for you to implement whenever you allow your children to have their social media accounts. 

Must-Have Rules When Your Children Have Their Own Social Media Accounts

5 Must-Have Rules When Your Children Have Their Own Social Media Accounts

1. Only Connect with Real Life Friends or Family

Your number one rule for children should be that they only allow people to follow or view their content if they truly know the person. This means you should set a rule that only real-life friends or family connect with your child via social media. 

2. Keep Profiles Private

You may want to keep your child’s social media accounts private. This helps deter strangers from stalking your child and helps keep your number one rule for a child having their own social media account; that they only connect with real-life friends or family members. 

3. Use Manners

It’s very easy for children and adults to get sucked into a negative, not-so-friendly social media conversation. Be sure that your children understand that they must adhere to all expectations of using their manners and being kind whether they’re on social media or not. 

4. Don’t Badmouth

Next, as part of using manners on social media, you must let your children know that some people may say bad, mean things to others online. Always keep open communication with your child, so they feel comfortable discussing this with you. Let them know it’s never okay to badmouth or cyberbully another person on social media. 

5. Don’t Give Out Personal Information

You may have your child use a false last name, as many children have started to use their first and middle names on social media. If you allow your child to use their full name, that’s entirely up to you, but what is important is to teach your kids never to give out their address, cell phone number, or any other private information that could give a stranger access to their whereabouts. 

These are just some of the must-have rules when your children have their social media accounts. There’s no way to know for sure who will try to contact your children or what your children are doing on social media, but these rules will help keep your children a little safer on social media.

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5 Must-Have Rules When Your Children Have Their Own Social Media Accounts