Teaching My Son How to be Safe Online and on Social Media

Teaching my son how to be safe online and on Social media

The online world has been ingrained into our everyday life, so much so that we don’t even realise it most of the time.

With quick access at our fingertips, the world wide web is primed and ready to go. Whether that be via social media, google, apps, whatever, it’s with us all the time.

We now have generations growing up with a world filled with the Internet from streaming services to tablets and phones. Children have more access now than ever and their exposure is starting earlier and earlier.

My Son and the Internet

I see it alot with my son. He’s got a phone, tablet, laptop and games console and although he’s still young enough to be a bit oblivious to using the web, I worry constantly about how he will use and access the online world.

I know it’s going to happen one day. He will be playing his game or playing about with his laptop and he will discover there’s a whole online world out there.

Little bear is already asking about the likes of having a YouTube channel or TikTok account because his friends have them.

In my opinion 8 years old is still very young to be exposed to the Internet that much. I’m very aware of the online dangers surrounding Children, so my son won’t be getting any of them for a long time.

So, my top priority is to educate and monitor him on all things Internet for when the time does come where he enters the online world.

As I feel he is old enough to start learning in a healthy, kid friendly way about the Internet, I’ve got a plan to start educating him.

Teaching my son how to be safe online and on Social media

Little bear has been asking about making our dog, Poppy, a blog of her own. He knows about mine and what I do, and he’s fascinated.

Little bear decided one day that Poppy should have a blog of her very own blog for doggy things. He came up with ideas on Rating doggy parks and reviewing dog toys. It was so sweet listening to his plans of what he wanted to do with it, but I was worried because I knew he was serious.

He was serious about a blog and running it and he wanted me to ok the idea. But, I just couldn’t.

He’s not old enough to be left on the Internet to do his own thing so I wasn’t about to say yes to a blog, no matter how sweet the idea was.

Little Bears never ending endeavours

Everyday Little bear would ask me about the blog and list ideas of why it’s a great plan.

There were also extensive talks on how he could do it on his own and I don’t need to worry. But I was worried.

Then came the presentation.

Little bear has access to canva on his iPad as he loves creating new movie poster ideas and such, it’s rather cute. So, he worked on a little presentation for me on all the reasons he should have a blog for Poppy.

By the end of the presentation a lump was in my throat and I couldn’t help but admire his creativity and determination.

That’s when I began thinking of a plan.

My Plan of Action

So, Little Bear wants to start a blog for Poppy that he runs, but I’m not comfortable with letting him have free reign.

I also don’t want to take on the extra workload that another blog would take.

That’s when Instagram came to mind.

Lots of people have pages for their pets, I can keep it on my phone and have full control plus monitor him. It’s not a huge task and is a great project for Little Bear to work on and bond with me and the dog.

It’s also a great way for me to start educating him on using social media and the dangers it poses.

Our Instagram project

The next time Little Bear asked about the blog, I came at him with the Instagram ideas. It’s still a place he can play around with his ideas and share photos, it’s just lower maintenance and safer.

I explained the rules of the account to him and why it had to be that way.

This led to a very in depth conversation between us on why we need to be safe online. It was great how the topic just opened up and allowed for us to have that time together and me to educate him a little.

The Account

Our new Instagram account is @poppy_pawfection and it’s run by myself and my son.

It’s a place for all things Poppy and dog related. There will be recommendations, cute photos, funny videos and more.

For the most part little bear will have full creative control but I’ll be there along the way to lend a helping hand.

From post captions to videos filmed, Little Bear will be taking the reins on coming up with content.

Final thoughts

I’m so excited to see what he does with this and be part of the journey with him.

I love having bonding time with Little Bear and it’s even better I can pass on some words of wisdom about the online world.

This really has turned out to be a great teaching tool as we’ve had many conversations now about the Internet. I quizz him now and then to make sure he’s retaining the information and he has.

More education on the dangers of the online world

I think if there was more education about the dangers of the online world and safeguarding them, it would benefit society in a huge way.

There are lots of children out there who learn about some heinous things or are exposed to the low life’s of society and their predatory ways.

Heck, there are also parents out there oblivious about the dangers of creating a digital footprint from birth.

So, I think more education on it would be a massive benefit, that’s why I’m determined to guide my son along the way in an appropriate manner.

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