Community Information

Students and Social Media

This a reminder for all, that parents play a key role in guiding their children around the use of technology, especially when determining when they should be using social media accounts. 

Social media sites/apps usually have a minimum age requirement for those who use their site/app. Most specify that users must be at least 13 years old. Parents may be unaware of this requirement.

The minimum age stipulations are based on the requirements of the US Congress as set out in the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The act specifies that website operators must gain verifiable parental consent prior to collecting any personal information from a child younger than 13 years old (O'Keeffe et al., 2011). Many social networking sites avoid this requirement by setting a minimum age of use at 13 years old but there is no responsibility on website operators to verify the age of users.

We are aware that quite a number of our students have active social media accounts. I recommend having a talk with your child about this topic. They might be aware of the minimum age requirement, or choose to ignore it and sign up anyway. 

While most people who use social media do so to connect with friends and family, and use it in a responsible manner, there are those who abuse this. 

At times, people might be drawn into saying hurtful or negative things about others which can make a small problem into a bigger one. This is especially possible for those who are young and may not have the maturity to understand the consequences or effect this can have on others. Younger people may not be prepared or know how to manage a negative experience on social media. 

At times, the negativity or hurtful comments can be posted more often and with more people joining in with posting these things. This is where it can become Cyberbullying. In Victoria, cyberbullying can become a criminal offence with the police being involved.

To have a clear understanding of your child’s use of technology, it is a good idea to supervise your child’s online activity. Be clear on things like when and where online devices can be used and when they need to be switched off.

If you would like further information about online safety and/or the use of social media for young people, please have a look at the following sites:

Youth Law Australia

https://yla.org.au/vic/topics/internet-phones-and-technology/cyber-bullying/

eSafety Commissioner Australia

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/online-safety-basics