Does your child dream of
becoming a YouTube or Instagram celebrity? The influence lifestyle is not as
picture-perfect as it may seem.
The rise of the internet
has led to the rise of the social media influencer, altering the aspirations of
children around the world. A recent survey
of 2,000 parents of 11
to 16-year-olds shows that doctors (18%) are still number one on the dream job
list, but they are closely followed by social media influencers (17%) and, more
specifically, YouTubers (14%).
Being an online celebrity
might look glamorous, but what are the risks? The digital world can hide a
range of dangers, and it’s important that both children and their parents are
aware of the threats.
Online hate is inevitable
Many young influencers, who
base their self-worth on the likes and shares they receive, struggle if the
interest of the online crowd fades. Basing self-esteem on public
acknowledgement from strangers at an early age is risky – this is especially
true considering that feedback on the internet can often be even more
aggressive as anonymity is heightened and the commentator can hide behind their
screen.
Any person in the social
media limelight will inevitably have to face online hate. Comment sections
flooded with hateful messages are an emotional drag while actual threats are
frightening for anyone, no matter their age.
Parents can help their
children by moderating comments and reporting inappropriate behavior to
administrators, but this is not feasible when large numbers of people are
involved.
Oversharing and online
stalking
Kim Kardashian is one of
the most influential figures on social media – someone who likes to post and
share everything from her private life. During one of her visits to Paris this
backfired in the worst possible way when she was robbed
at gun point, with
criminals stealing jewelry worth US$8 million. It later came to light that the
heist was organized based simply on following Kim’s whereabouts on social media
posts. This example of oversharing should be a warning to anyone, especially to
young influencers who will do almost anything to please their followers.
Parental guidance at the start a child’s digital life is
essential. It helps set healthy boundaries between public
and private life on social media. Remember – anything posted online will stay there
forever.
Followers are
not real friends
Nowadays we spend so much
time in the digital world that we often feel like it’s the real world, and so
young children tend to overlook the simple fact that followers are not real
friends. Anonymous online crowds will not be there when they need a break from
the latest social media craze or be their confidant in difficult times. Real
friends and family cannot be replaced and should not be neglected in favor of a
digital life.
What else can a parent do
to keep their children safe?
· Talk to your children and guide
them through their experience online from a young age. If they pick up good habits
when they’re young, there is a good chance they’ll adhere to them as teenagers.
Keep the dialogue as open as possible. Make sure your child sees you as a trusted
advisor in case anything in their online life goes wrong.
· If your young children follow an influencer,
consider following the online celebrity too and keep an eye on what they share
or post. Be there to discuss with your child any inappropriate content that
appears.
· Build bridges across the generation gap. When having
a conversation with your child, listening can be more valuable than talking.
Let your child know you’re interested in what they’re saying and lead by
example – practice what you preach.
· Accept your child’s ambition to be an acknowledged
content creator as an opportunity to be close to them and teach them more than
just how to prepare their online stream. Keep yourself up to date with the
latest trends amongst teens. You have responsibilities, but try not to act like
an authoritarian figure. Make it clear that both of you are learning. That way
you can enjoy a dialogue with your teenager at an age where communication can
be particularly difficult.
· Use parental control tools that can help you
to keep
an eye on what your children is doing online and identify situations where they might need
advice. With your support they can learn how to act responsibly and articulate
their opinion, how to set good goals and achieve them. This last point is
especially important nowadays when most teens have expectations of instant
results.
To learn more about dangers
faced by children online as well as about how not only technology can help,
head over to the to the Safer
Kids Online platform.