Working to improve the social, emotional, mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Cornwall
For professionals

Social Media

  • If you want to know more about age restrictions on social media
  • If you’re worried about whether social media is harmful for children
  • If you’re worried that young people are ‘addicted’ to social media
  • If you’re concerned about bullying on social media within a peer group

This category is quite large, so let’s narrow it down.

Is your concern about:

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Having and accessing social media accounts (including excessive use)

Behaviours from other categories you may wish to explore:

 

Having their own private social media account

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Additional context: Although social media platforms have age restrictions, usually starting at 13, if children have an account that parents are aware of, and it is set to private it is unlikely to be a concern.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Having a public social media account

Using fake social media accounts to trick or humiliate others

Sharing images with peers with parent/guardian oversight

Regular social media use

Compulsive use of social media including checking during the night

Blocking and reporting someone for posting inappropriate content

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not Applicable Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Private use of digital platforms without supervision

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Harmful Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Having a YouTube channel

Becoming an influencer/brand ambassador

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful

 

Additional context: Whilst many young people may hope to become influencers, those who do may find that they are expected to work long hours for little reward. If a young person talks about sponsorship from brands, it’s important to ensure they are happy with the arrangement (eg they’re not being pressured by family) and that they are able to keep up with their school and social commitments.

Related behaviours from other categories:

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Talking about high numbers of subscribers / followers on online cast social media channel (eg YouTube / Instagram)

Actively promoting their social media to their peers

Seeing pornographic content on social media

Being concerned about parental or institutional monitoring

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related resources:

 

Curating feed on social media

Taking selfies/making content

Making content and publishing / posting online on any platform

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not Applicable Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Additional context: ‘extreme’ pornography is illegal and includes sexual activities with children (under 18), sexual activities with animals, sexual interference with a corpse, activities which cause serious injury, non-consensual sexual activity.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Taking but not sending selfies

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

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Accidentally sending selfies

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Playing with / using filters

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

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Excessive posing in selfies / obsession with selfies

Requesting images to be airbrushed

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Harmful Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful

 

Additional context: Filters have becoming increasingly sophisticated and can function like airbrushing. Many content creators use filters, and this isn’t necessarily harmful. However, if a young person can’t stand to see a picture of themselves that hasn’t been airbrushed or had a filter applied this could be a sign of poor self-esteem / body image.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Placing themselves at physical risk in order to take selfies or generate content

Asking to have photo removed / not put on social media

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Refusing to remove a picture of someone else when asked

Relationships in social media

Behaviours from other categories you may wish to explore

Direct messaging friends on own or shared devices

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not applicable Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Additional context: For the youngest age groups, device use should be supervised. This doesn’t mean reading every message that is exchanged but should include checking who is being messaged.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Having celebrity role models, aspiring to be like a celebrity

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Being secretive about direct messages

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Harmful Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful

 

Additional context: Secretive use could include a young person panicking if someone else comes near their device. This could be a sign that they are being harmed online. However, as young people get older, they are likely to expect higher levels of privacy. This should be respected, and young people should be offered the opportunity to talk openly about issues as they arise.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Anxiety around digital communications, including fear of missing out

Feeling anxious because messages have not been answered

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Harmful Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful

 

Additional context: For older teenagers, this is less likely to be harmful if they are talking to and dating people who are close to them in age (for example, a 17 year old dating an 18 year old). It is important to ensure they are aware of precautions they should take such as having a video call beforehand, taking a friend and meeting in a public place.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Running snapchat streaks with friends

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not applicable Potentially Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful Not Harmful

 

Additional context: ‘streaks’ are when people message each other every day. Friends may exchange seemingly inconsequential messages to maintain a streak. Whilst the messages themselves may not have much importance, maintaining the streak may be a seen as a sign of the closeness of a friendship.

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources:

 

Sharing social media / device passwords with others

0-5 years 6-8 years 9-12 years 13-15 years 16-18 years
Not applicable Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful Potentially Harmful

 

Related behaviours from other categories:

Related resources: