Week 4: Navigate- Social Media & Video Game Safety
Last week, we covered internet safety basics, including protecting personal information, setting boundaries, and responding calmly if your child comes to you with concerns. This week, we are continuing that conversation with a closer look at video games, social media, and cyberbullying. These are areas where children may feel comfortable and confident, but parents still need to stay actively involved.
General Rules and Concerns
- One of the most important things to remember is that almost every device has internet capability. If a device can connect to the internet, it may also be able to connect your child with other users, including people they know and complete strangers. This includes phones, tablets, gaming systems, computers, smart TVs, and even some toys.
- Before your child downloads a game or app, make it clear that they must ask permission first. That permission should not be a one-time discussion- continue the conversation as they use it. Ask what they like about it, who they interact with, what messages they receive, and whether anything has made them uncomfortable.
- Parents should always educate themselves before saying yes. Check age ratings, review privacy settings, and find out whether the game or app includes chat, voice communication, location sharing, private messaging, or interaction with strangers. If your answer is no, explain why. If your answer is yes, explain why you are comfortable with it, what dangers may still exist, and what rules your child must follow.
- Parental controls are helpful, but they are not a substitute for supervision. Use them, but do not blindly rely on them. Periodically check devices, apps, messages, friend lists, and privacy settings. Remember: do not be afraid to say no or to take away a device or game. You are the parent, and if your child is not following safety rules or is being placed in a potentially dangerous situation, it is important to step in.
- Remember that online predators rarely begin conversations with inappropriate questions. They often start by being friendly, helpful, funny, or interested in the same games your child enjoys. Teaching children that anyone online could misrepresent who they are is one of the most important internet safety lessons you can give them.
Video Games
Many of today's video games are much more than just games—they are online communities where players can engage and interact with people from all over the world. Because of this, parents should evaluate more than just the content of the game before deciding if it's appropriate.
When choosing a game, don't just ask, "Is this violent?" Also ask:
- Can players communicate through voice or text chat?
- Can strangers join my child's game?
- Can players send private messages or friend requests?
- Does the game encourage players to move conversations to another app?
- Are there parental controls available?
One of the greatest online safety concerns in gaming is communication with strangers. While your child may believe they are simply playing with another kid their age, there is no way to know who is actually behind the screen. Online predators often build trust over time by playing games together, offering gifts within the game, or simply becoming someone a child enjoys talking to. Eventually, they may begin asking personal questions, encouraging secrecy, or trying to move the conversation to a private messaging app.
Two more dangers that are typically present with videogames are the use of Discord and the use of headphones. Discord allows users to join large public communities, exchange private messages, and communicate with people they have never met. Because these conversations often happen outside the game itself, they become much more difficult for parents to monitor. Although Discord is popular among gamers, it is not safe for children or teens. Another often-overlooked safety concern is headphones. While they may keep the house quieter, they also prevent parents from hearing the conversations taking place. Without realizing it, a child may be exposed to profanity, sexual conversations, bullying, hate speech, or attempts by strangers to gather personal information. Keeping audio out loud, especially for younger children, gives parents another layer of awareness.
Social Media
Social media helps children stay connected, but it also increases their exposure to strangers and online predators, inappropriate content, scams, and online manipulation. Before allowing your child to create an account, review each app's privacy settings and always check that location sharing has been disabled.
Remind children that not everyone online is who they claim to be. A person may use fake pictures, pretend to be another child, or attempt to gain trust over time. Teach your child to never move conversations to private apps, share personal information, or agree to meet someone they only know online.
TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms among children and teens, but it also presents unique safety concerns. Its algorithm is designed to keep users watching, often exposing children to mature content, dangerous trends, unrealistic beauty standards, or harmful behaviors after only a few videos. Because many videos are centered around gaining views, likes, and followers, some children may feel pressure to participate in risky stunts, inappropriate challenges, vandalism, trespassing, or other dangerous or even illegal behaviors in hopes of "going viral." Parents should regularly discuss with their children that no amount of online attention is worth risking their safety or breaking the law. In addition, the constant comparison to influencers and peers can negatively affect a child's self-esteem. Seeing carefully edited videos and highlight reels may leave children feeling like they don't measure up, which can contribute to increased anxiety, sadness, or depression.
Snapchat presents different challenges because many of its messages and photos disappear after they are viewed. The temporary nature of Snapchat can often encourage secrecy. This app can create a false sense of privacy and make it easier for children to hide conversations from trusted adults. Children may feel more comfortable sending hurtful, inappropriate, or risky messages because they believe there will be no evidence afterward. Unfortunately, this can increase opportunities for cyberbullying, harassment, and the sharing of inappropriate images or messages. Remind your child that even if a message disappears from the app, the impact of what is sent—or received—can last much longer. Encourage them to report bullying, never send anything they wouldn't want others to see, and come to a trusted adult immediately if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or pressures them to keep secrets.
Finally, remember that no app is completely safe or completely unsafe. What matters most is whether parents understand how the app works, have ongoing conversations with their children, regularly review privacy settings, and remain actively involved in their child's online life.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is repeated, intentional harm through phones, games, apps, messages, social media, or pictures. It may include mean comments, threats, rumors, exclusion from group chats, embarrassing posts or embarrassing pictures, or sharing private information. National online safety research shows that cyberbullying remains a common concern for both children and teens, so parents should talk about it before it happens.
Teach children not to respond with anger, not to delete evidence right away, and not to handle it alone. They should save screenshots, block the person, and report them to website or video game. Most importantly, they need to tell a trusted adult immediately. Parents should report mean, harassing, threatening, or inappropriate messages to the app, school, or law enforcement if needed.
Remember, internet safety should never be about fear; it is all about awareness, boundaries, and communication. Children need to know that they can come to you without immediately getting in trouble, but they also need to know that online access is a privilege with rules. Stay curious, stay involved, and do not be afraid to parent with confidence in the digital world.
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The NETCAC provides educational information for families, schools, churches, and community groups across Northeast Texas. If you or your organization is interested in more information, or hosting an educational event, please contact Caitlin Graham at (903)629-7588.
