In the age of social media and smartphone communication, students love to connect through the use of Instagram. As a picture represents a thousand words, sharing photographs are an eye-catching way of socializing in mixed-media conversations. Connect Safely, an online organization emphasizing smart communication, created a user-friendly Parent’s Guide to Instagram with responses to parent’s top 5 questions:
· Why do kids love Instagram?
· Does Instagram have a minimum age?
· What are the risks in using Instagram?
· What is the best way to help kids stay safe on Instagram?
· Should my child’s profile be private?
It is important to remember that once a photo on Instagram is shared, it is digital and can be shared and copied by anyone who sees it. Becoming familiar with the public and private settings is very important. Remember, when a photo is public anyone in the online world has access to see it. When it is private, you choose to share the photograph with a limited number of friends. Choose trustworthy friends to share photographs with as once your friend receives a photo they have access to share it with anyone they desire. Instagram defaults are set to public. This means that one has to take the necessary steps to choose how to change the photo to private.
Posts and photos become part of one’s public image. The safety of Instagram depends on how one uses it rather than the age of the user. Be smart and initiate a parent conversation asking them to teach you the step by step how they use Instagram. By understanding some of the key concepts, you will know what questions are important to ask. It is never too late to learn how to use Instagram properly.
Follow the GWA Digital Citizenship Weebly to prepare for the upcoming Safer Internet Day on February 11th. Keep up to date with recent articles, research and Digital Citizenship findings by subscribing to our Facebook Page.
· Why do kids love Instagram?
· Does Instagram have a minimum age?
· What are the risks in using Instagram?
· What is the best way to help kids stay safe on Instagram?
· Should my child’s profile be private?
It is important to remember that once a photo on Instagram is shared, it is digital and can be shared and copied by anyone who sees it. Becoming familiar with the public and private settings is very important. Remember, when a photo is public anyone in the online world has access to see it. When it is private, you choose to share the photograph with a limited number of friends. Choose trustworthy friends to share photographs with as once your friend receives a photo they have access to share it with anyone they desire. Instagram defaults are set to public. This means that one has to take the necessary steps to choose how to change the photo to private.
Posts and photos become part of one’s public image. The safety of Instagram depends on how one uses it rather than the age of the user. Be smart and initiate a parent conversation asking them to teach you the step by step how they use Instagram. By understanding some of the key concepts, you will know what questions are important to ask. It is never too late to learn how to use Instagram properly.
Follow the GWA Digital Citizenship Weebly to prepare for the upcoming Safer Internet Day on February 11th. Keep up to date with recent articles, research and Digital Citizenship findings by subscribing to our Facebook Page.