WITH the return of school this week, many parents will be navigating conversations with their teenagers about how to stay safe online.
While discussing safety with teenagers may seem straightforward, it can be a daunting challenge for parents and carers who often find it difficult to navigate such tricky topics within the family.
However, with the help of a few valuable tips and tricks, these conversations can bring families closer.
Snapchat’s Global Head of Platform Safety Jacqueline Beauchere shares her top six tips:
1. Take an interest: Acknowledging how important a teenager’s digital life is to them is a crucial first step.
Taking an interest and initiating conversation can make young people feel understood and supported by a trusted guardian who’s always there to chat.
2. How does this work?: Learning about your teenager’s favourite apps and games can help you to understand how to support them in having a healthier and safer online experience. Snapchat’s guide for parents explains what Snapchat is, how parents can use the app, and their rules to help keep people safe.
3. Help them understand: Understanding the risks of talking to strangers, and even sharing with friends, and why it’s essential to protect personal information are important life skills to know both online and off. eSafety in Australia has excellent resources for parents and young people.
4. Respect boundaries: It’s normal to worry about your teenager’s online activity, especially if they prefer you don’t join their platforms. Balancing privacy and safety can be tough, but it is essential.
Explore parental controls on the apps your teenager uses and discuss them together to build trust. Snapchat’s Family Centre offers tools to help parents set boundaries while respecting privacy.
5. Listen and hear, don’t judge: Be mindful of your reaction if your teenager comes to you looking for help.
They might be embarrassed, ashamed, upset or scared, so let them know you are there to help. Listen, hear, ask questions, and work together to determine the best approaches.
6. Report it, don’t ignore it: Encourage your teenager to report any concerns to the platform or service involved confidentially so they can act upon it.
Snapchat’s Family Centre tools allow parents to report accounts directly. In Australia, reports can also be made to eSafety or the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
Ms Beauchere said it was crucial to help teenagers navigate digital spaces safely.
“Our goal is to provide a healthier and safer environment for all Snapchatters, especially the youngest members of our community,” she said.
“Our approach to safety and privacy starts with the unique design of our platform and includes extra safeguards for teens.
“I’d encourage all families to have regular and relaxed conversations about online safety, and recommend that parents of younger Snapchatters make use of our Family Centre tools, which aim to help make these conversations a little easier.”
For more tips and guidance, visit www.esafety.gov.au.
