If you have kids, what age would you allow your kids to have social media accounts?

[itsannalee]

[Apulu_backagain]

I was given a phone and a parent connected account when I was 12. And when I turned 13 then my dad just made that an independent account. They didn't really gave me the 'talk' about the social media that's why I was here as a 13 year old. But good for me, I searched up the right things. I knew from my safety classes of 5th grade that few texts and things were weird and I remember searching up how to protect yourself from groomers and things like that and educated myself about that topic so I'm nearly safe.

Want to hear a fun story?

When I was 13, there was this guy who said me that he had my IP address. This happened in this site only. I didn't knew what IP address was that time, and he was here raving all about how he can hack up my computer (I also had a computer cuz we had online classes then, it was a old one but worked pretty well) and then hack the camera to stalk me if I didn't talk with him the way he wanted. And I just told him that the camera of my computer doesn't work (which is true) and that wtf is IP address and blocked him and continued with my life. 4 months later, my piano/keyboard teacher was teaching me about DAW (digital audio workstation) and he asked for my IP address so that he can send me the correct files to install a DAW and he talked about it like he was asking for something really personal from me.

He said, "Don't send them to me, send them over to your dad and we can talk about what will be perfect. Send them to me only if your parents trust me enough with that"

I asked, "Is IP address something really private?"

He said, "Oh yes it is sort of private... you shouldn't share that to any untrustable person because they can use it to their advantage if they are tech savy"

And yeah, that's why ignorance is bliss. If I knew what IP address was back them then I would have been blackmailed and nah, he didn't hack my computer. He was just speaking shit.

So anyways, I was a really really smart kid and was aware about most of the things online. I avoid those 18+ ads when I'm trying to watch a movie or series from some website any do everything in my power to keep myself protected. I guess my parents trusted me with this is because they knew I would be able to handle it and also because it was the era of online classes where homeworks, notes and everything was online. Because they're pretty conscious about my younger sister's screen usage (she's 14 now) and she still uses a parent control account. And yes, lucky for me, there were reliable adults in here too who did and still do their best to protect me or any minor from any sort of harrassment. They educated me about many things.

So I think it really boils down to how mature your kid is and how strongly they can say no to other people. If your child is a people pleasure, then I'm sorry they'll be taken advantage of. You educate them about EVERYTHING about online forums when you give them a device, even those adult rated things and nowadays things are worse with deepfake and AI. It wasn't that bad when I was a young teen.

[Anonymous]

18. Social media is very bad for the mental health. Things like cyber bullying and people feeling unhappy when they see other people more physically attractive, richer and living happier lives makes people feel bad.

[Opinion Owner]

I don’t want my kids mental health to be damaged. It’s not my choice what they do after 18 but I would even encourage them after 18 to not use social media

[Opinion Owner]

I don’t have any kids now but would like to in the future

[strateguy632]

Exactly! Reference: that emily osment film. Cyber bully 2011.

[Opinion Owner]

@strateguy632 I have never seen the movie but there was a boy at my school over a decade ago who committed suicide. He was a grade below me. I didn’t know him and never spoke to him before but I heard other people say he was cyber bullied online. I can’t confirm for sure this is true it’s just what I heard other people say. It’s not just him though. There have been many people worldwide who feel depressed after being scammed, catfished or cyber bullied online.

[Opinion Owner]

@itsannalee Thankyou for best answer

[Anonymous]

Look I don’t want to be over protective of my kids but there are too many weirdos on the internet as well as too many fucked up people. My definition of fucked up is probably more extreme then most people as where some people may find something fucked up that I don’t think is near as bad. Maybe I’ve just seen too much…

But there is a lot of really fucked up stuff. Even if they have social media it will be monitored. I don’t want to be invasive but at the same time it’s a parents job to keep tabs on what their children are doing. Who they’re talking to. What they are looking at. Etc….

If people knew the number of children underage are being contacted by child predators. Are not only finding pornography at a early age but things such as gore. Bestiality. Even child pornography sometimes completely on accident will shock you.

[BlackRose97]

You're right to be cautious though. A lot of us learned this lesson the hard way as kids. Especially when pretending to be older to talk to guys. Fortunately I never did anything too bad, but I know girls who did. It made me think that I'd never want my future kids to even have an Internet connection.

[Opinion Owner]

@BlackRose97 yes and I know people who have ran child predator investigations and it’s absolutely horrific especially young vulnerable boys and girls.

Being asked to do everything under the sun even having creeps asking kids to do things that are unspeakably evil

[Opinion Owner]

@BlackRose97 and I know there has been children asked by predators to commit deviant sex acts such as pedophilia, Bestiality, Incest, and anything you can imagine.

These people are truly sick because most kids cannot even think these things up on their own and exposing to this to them hurts them. Even if they never follow through with what they’re being asked to do and I know that in some cases predators have gotten them to do these things.

Such as offering money. Telling them it’s normal or fun it’s really just sick and disgusting these people belong in prison

[Opinion Owner]

@BlackRose97 when people are adults they should know better then to make certain decisions. But children need to be protected from what evil is out there.

Most people who cannot even think about such evils have no idea what’s really out there and how dark it really gets. Parents need to monitor their kids internet usage before their kids end up ruined for life.

Unfortunately, some people who are preyed upon as kids go into adulthood still making the bad choices continuing the cycle and even becoming future predators. But they are adults who know better now so it’s not a excuse

[Garud]

16 with limited hours of internet, except games, they can play as many games as they like

[chocolatetwopointo]

why? won't kids bully them?

[Garud]

@chocolatetwopointo There is no bullying where I live because everyone is already so stressed and grumpy that they don't get much time to do that

[chocolatetwopointo]

and where is that?

[Garud]

@chocolatetwopointo India

[SnowyOwl]

I'd only allow them something like Discord at around 14-15 . But I'd discourage facebook and instagram, even would have a talk with them if they ever asked me about those, and why our family is not on it. So much unhealthy content on those.
So I would facilitate other ways for them to socialize.
I personally dont use facebook anymore, and instagram only for business purposes.

[lorenzomichael]

There mother and I raised my both our son and daughter right. We didn’t keep anything from either one of them Always told them the truth what they could understand and most importantly, we taught them right from wrong. So we allowed them to have a phone with unlimited use of minutes, texting, Internet access everything, when they were in the sixth grade. And both of them did not disappoint. Happy to say my kids are not weird, strange, sick, disgusting or any of those things that we find foul or inappropriate. So it’s up to you the way you raise them and the values you teach them along the way. remember, they’re gonna be a reflection of you their parents.

[4ngelic]

probably 5th-6th grade, but with parental controls and only to talk to people from school or that they know. I'd let them have unsupervised full access to whatever they want once they're like 15-16

[Den1971]

Maybe 14 maybe 15 yes but I have to know what they are.

[itsannalee]

Yeah agreed.

[Den1971]

You have to be really careful these days

[AManOnTheWeb]

25 years old. By then you should be mature enough to not publish things that could ruin your life and live on the internet forever...

[Apple1996]

I let them use my secondary accounts so I have full access of them. It seems to work out good enough so they can watch things on YouTube/insta/tiktok but they're not allowed to post and I can see what they're watching

[exitseven]

I would want them to not get a social media account until they are 18.

[molonski2]

In Australia the age is 17

So , I'd stick with the law , we need MUCH less screen time full stop.

[itsannalee]

What if a fake the birth year on social media

[itsannalee]

I mean in your country.

[molonski2]

Well , obviously there will be fakes , but its about the statement of law , and the safety or otherwise of SM... Its making a statement to parents and kids , thats more the point.
Not unlike USA drinking laws.. the point is clear. Plus it also means schools will not breach these laws.
I dont live there by the way , but was born there , here I dont see kids on SM. Its seriously not healthy.

[Kingofkings1992]

I won’t ever have kids, but if I did, they wouldn’t be using social media while they’re living with me

[Alwayreckles93]

At age 18 . Social security media is not a safe place for children. I am against it. Unless it's for homework.

[Anastasia06]

When they’re 16. But depends on where their head at.

[emeraldsaphire]

16-18, but I think it would depend on the app and there level of development.

[Jakefromstatefarm6]

Probably wouldn't have any cell phones or social media until at least 13 or 14. And I would make sure they know what to look for if a predator starts talking to them

[HighValue]

Never, and I wouldn't allow them to have a smartphone either.

[Anonymous]

Gave mine a phone at 6. I didn’t trust the father when my kid went there. I’m sure glad I did it. It allowed my kid to hide and call the police.

[Graptemys79]

I read that the average teen spends five hours a day on social media. And then they say they don't have enough time for homework.

[es20490446e]

16, but I would tell them the dangers of social media. The waste of time it is.

[Anonymous]

Never. They wouldn't have internet access at home, let alone own a damn phone.

[DrPepper12]

No snapchat

Rinsta, not finsta in 7-8 grade

Til tok - middle school

[WowGIrl4ever]

I don't know I worry about that all the time.

[BlackRose97]

17.99 years old

[Anonymous]

People need to mind their own business how other people are parenting their own kids. Big woop! They’re nice to you at the grocery store or passing by at the schools, etc

[Iron_Man]

18 they don’t need the distraction

[Iron_Man]

if I ever have kids

[ICanSmellTheCosmos]

16 at the absolute earliest.

[TheRealPepperPotts]

Probably 40...

[Fruitcrush34]

Around 16 or 18

[nawtee_me]

Probably 10 or so….

[Agape93]

When they move out

[WhitneySnow]

Probably 13

[eagle1951]

ninty lol

[itsannalee]

😆😆

[Crazzyyworld]

18 18

[shortster]

Eighteen

[art84]

Teenagers

[Ladsin2]

About 30

[12karen]

14yo