CHILDREN are getting their own personal phones at an early age these days, and can easily hide from their parents what apps they are using and what content they are watching.
Social media has become the main point of reference for children and teenagers alike, and that is why there are age restrictions on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
What are the social media age restrictions?
Nearly all social networking sites only allow users aged 13 and over.
This age limit has been dictated by US law through the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The act at first ordered sites to seek “verifiable parental consent” for younger users, and then restrict how they could use data.
But subsequently many apps decided that it would not be worthwhile, the BBC reports.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg vowed to fight to change the COPPA law in 2011, but the restrictions remain in place.
You have to be 13-years-old to create a Facebook account.
Creating a Facebook account with false info is a violation of Facebook’s terms, including accounts registered for someone under 13.
You can report under-age accounts on Facebook here.
It emerged in a CBBC study that of the children under 13 using social media without permission – 49 per cent were signed up to Facebook.
Instagram also requires you to be 13 years of age to create an account.
If you come across an account that belongs to someone under 13 or know of it, you can report it from here.
Is social media safe for children?
A survey for CBBC, of 1,200 people aged between 10 and 18, found that 96 per cent were signed up to social media networks.
And it found that 78 per cent of those aged interviewed under 13 had joined at least one social network despite not being old enough, reported the BBC.
The NSPCC said that some sites can be a “dangerous place for younger children, potentially exposing them to bullying, inappropriate content or grooming”.
The charity found that 1,380 children – out of nearly 1,700 it surveyed – thought social media sites needed to do more to protect them and they reported seeing pornography, self-harm, bullying and hatred.
More on Facebook and tech
The NSPCC wants the Government to ensure social networks follow a universal set of rules.
Peter Wanless, chief executive of NSPCC, said: “We’ve seen time and time again social media sites allowing violent, abusive or illegal content to appear unchecked on their sites, and in the very worst cases children have died after being targeted by predators or seeing self-harm films posted online.”
Sussex Police released an animation video (see below) warning young girls and boys about the risk of social media pervs who try to get them to send nude selfies.
The force said it will release two animations – aimed at children and young people from the ages of 11 to 17 – on their Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
