Is your 11yo on Instagram?

[Bookridden]

Going through my feed, I noticed that a lot of DD's friends (just going into y7) have accounts. Not all of them are private. Many of them are being followed by parents, but I'm surprised how many from DD's year are already on Instagram. My DD hasn't yet asked for this, although she does have a phone. I don't really like the self-obsession of constant selfies, or the emphasis on appearance in kids so young. It all seems a bit, well, knowing to be so into fashion and social media at this age. Am I hopelessly behind the times in thinking this? They don't seem like kids and they don't seem innocent. Yet DD still likes dolls, playing etc. She's going to be eaten alive at secondary, isn't she?

My Dd is almost 12, and about to go into Yr7, she doesn't have instagram. A few of the girls she knows have it but most of them don't. I know that her closest friends don't have it.

My DD is like yours, quite young in her ways. She can be quite sociable, I figure that she'll find like-minded friends in secondary.

No, because he's 11. He loves all the usual online stuff that they all do - fortnite, YouTube watching etc but he has no interest in social media. I wouldn't allow it anyway, will consider when 13

No.

Yes but it's a private account and I am a follower. She's had it for about a year (nearly 13) a d mostly posts naff memes and pictures of dogs. She says she is bored of it now.

Mine are 12 and have had Instagram for about 6 months. Private account. They also have WhatsApp but no Snapchat/Facebook/Twitter. We’ve also blocked YouTube on their laptops/phones as it was sucking up inordinate amounts of time and leading to rows about all sorts.

Nope as you have to be 13 to have an account.

Just read your last bit. Dd is young for her age and starting secondary last year was a worry. She's been fine. Most are still very young. There's the odd one into makeup and boys but it's not the norm. Your DD will be fine.

My DS is 11 and has had Instagram since about June. He had whatsapp at the start of the year. They seem to be ok. He is onky allowed to add/talk to people he knows in real life. His settings on xbox are such that he can only talk to friends. He doesn’t yet have snapchat or musically.

It’s illegal for anyone under the age of 13 to be on Instagram. Anyone on it under 13 has lied about their age.

I have a 12 year old DSD. Her mum lied about her age and she got it at 11. Since then she’s become obsessed about pouting selfies. Personally I think it’s too young.

No, he has a Pokemon game and the youtube app.

My almost 16 year old doesn’t either.

No.

Also suprises me how many of DDs friends requested to follow me!

No, but I'm certain dd1 who is 17yo isn't on it, and I'm pretty certain dd2 (14yo) isn't on it either.

Mine did not at 11, but some of my family members do at 11. However none of their photos are selfies or fashion or appearance based. It's just stuff they've been doing that day. It's a way they stay in touch with their friends and family.