As the school year progresses, we find ourselves at parents’ evenings with our Lower III (Year 6) students. It’s a delightful occasion, especially this year, as I had the privilege of teaching this same group three years ago. Witnessing their growth into remarkable young individuals and their impending transition fills me with immense pride, albeit tinged with a touch of nostalgia as we prepare to bid them farewell.

One recurring question from parents during this transition to Senior School stands out:

“My daughter is getting her first phone, and I know she’ll soon be asking for Snapchat, Instagram, or whichever platform is currently in vogue. Do you have any advice?”

Navigating this terrain is indeed challenging. Most social media platforms enforce a minimum age requirement of 13+, yet our students are increasingly savvy about digital interactions. As a staff body, we prioritise online safety, dedicating time to train our students in this crucial area. Our session last year with the insightful Karl Hopwood is a wealth of knowledge for  parents, staff, and students alike. However, despite our efforts, there’s no magic solution. On one hand, there’s a compelling argument for limiting social media use and implementing strict controls—after all, the negative impact of social media is well-documented. On the other hand, young people thrive on online socialisation, and excluding them entirely comes with its own costs.

Wherever you draw the line with your daughter, consider the following common advice:

1. Open Conversations: Initiate candid conversations with your daughter before she dives into social media. Discuss the pros and cons, emphasising responsible usage, privacy, and potential risks. 
2. Platform Familiarity: Show her how these platforms work. Use real examples, demonstrate how to secure profiles, and explain ownership of uploaded content.
3. Age Restrictions: Acknowledge the age restrictions set by social media platforms. While curiosity is natural, it’s essential to respect these guidelines.
4. Set boundaries for device use. Examples might include limiting to a certain number hours of use a week and not having devices in bedrooms or at dinner tables.
5. Consider using a Parental Control App. These apps allow the parents to see (and potentially lock) which apps are in use, how much time is spent on each app etc. We have seen good examples of these combined with rewards (.e.g you do job X and get 30 mins extra time a week on your favourite app). PC Mag have a great review of the leading ones The Best Free Parental Control Apps for 2024, PC Mag, Dec 21 2023
6. Make use of Common Sense Media. This is a great website that gives parents a quick review of apps and platforms. It tells you about the type of content that can be accessed and whether there are chat functions etc. www.commonsensemedia.org

A great starting point is an article written earlier this year by Mr. Bradley, featured in The Circuit: Online Safety Dec 2023. It provides excellent suggestions for initiating that crucial initial conversation. 

You find more information for parents on helping children with technology at the UK Safer Internet Centre.

Mr Stevens