There are a lot of positive things that social media brings to life. However, social media can also be dangerous, especially for children. Protecting your child’s privacy on social media is essential to keeping your child safe. Here are some tips for protecting your child’s privacy online.

1. Post Sparingly

As a parent, it can be hard not to want to share all the wonderful things about your child. However, you should use caution when sharing information about your child. Personally, identifying information can be dangerous to post.

According to the Department of Education, about 32% of four-year-olds and 5% of three-year-olds, 1.5 million children (about the population of West Virginia) are enrolled in preschool. You should never post where your child attends preschool. It is safer for them if this information is not made public.

2. Parental Controls

For older children legally allowed to use social media (there are age restrictions), it can be difficult to monitor their accounts full-time. However, software can be used to monitor and control what and how your child uses social media. It is strongly suggested that parents use this software to help their children make good online choices.

Taking control of what and how your child posts will help to keep them safe. Of course, having discussions about internet safety is also critical. Talk to your children about the dangers of social media. Impart your own age regulations. Some children are not ready for social media and all the ins and outs until they are well into their teenage years.

3. Privacy Controls

The higher the privacy controls, the more protection. Every social media platform has privacy controls for who can see posts. Encourage children to set those controls for friends only. Parents should do the same. However, friends-only settings don’t guarantee that posts and pictures will not make their way onto the internet and into hands you don’t want them to.

Keeping everything as private as possible is a good thing. Posts should never be made public. It is far too dangerous to make any posts public. Privacy settings should be reviewed regularly and adjusted as necessary.

4. Same Page

Many children split their time between their divorced parents’ homes. According to U.S. Courts, visitation is typically decided by the parties involved based on what is best for the child. Co-parenting can be easier when there is open communication. Open communication about social media use is essential.

Whatever the rules are in one house regarding internet usage, those should be the rules in the other house. All adults need to be on the same page regarding posts, privacy, and how much time the child can spend online. Each parent should have passwords to the child’s account and do a periodic review.

5. Shut Down

Don’t be afraid to shut down your child’s access to the internet if you find they are doing things that put them at risk. It is good to trust your child, but never at the expense of putting themselves in dangerous situations online. Requiring them to shut down their social media accounts when you sense trouble brewing is okay.

There are a lot of facts and statistics out there that parents can ignore for example, according to the American Trucking Legion, about 15.5 million trucks are in the United States, with 2 million tractor-trailers. Other statistics like the number of children that have experienced duress, privacy violations, and harm because they participated in social media should never be ignored.

Children are vulnerable members of society both on and offline. You must protect your children online from other people and themselves. Privacy matters. Learn more about how to protect your child’s privacy online today.