Swearing in a kids WhatsApp group

[Twat8928]

How would you deal with it?

My DS is both part of this group and recently also taken part in the swearing.

I think DS should leave the group and any other groups in which there is swearing. DH disagrees and thinks this is what boys do.

Am I pearl clutching? Is he downplaying?

They’re 11.

Went through this 2 years ago when mine was 11. Was difficult. They're usually just starting with that sort of communication and they're pushing boundaries and thinking they're cool. Some of it wears off.

with a username like yours I’m surprised your complaining about swearing.

Unless it’s mean/bullying then let it go.

😂😂 I bloody love a good swear. But I’m 39. DS is 11 and I don’t want to encourage swearing until he’s at least a bit older! He wouldn’t swear at school or home.

What kind of swearing? Are they calling each other cunts? Then that's not ok. Are they saying crap or bloody? Then I wouldn't mind.

What's the context of the swearing? Are they telling each other to fuck off or calling each other names or are they saying a TV programme is shit?

Porn and videos can be shared on WhatsApp so I assume you're regularly monitoring it.

I can’t get worked up over a bit of swearing in a what’s up group. If he swearing all the time regardless of setting, it would be different, but you say it is not an issue at school etc

Of course we’re monitoring it.

That’s how we know he’s swearing!

This is what WhatsApp is, though, OP. It's a cesspit, with some upsides.

DS1 is nearly 12 and not allowed WhatsApp. It's the cause of too much strife in school. He can still message his friends without being added to stupid groups every 5 mins and subjected to endless spam.

I would say to my child I'd read the messages and aren't they all silly not being able to find words to express themselves without swearing. I wouldn't make him leave the group though.

Remove the phone from the child.

One other parent put his own message on a group WhatsApp to tell them to stop swearing please. This was quite effective.... probably because it was one of the Dads (annoyingly).

I removed the ability to be added to groups. Ds can only join if he's sent an invite and then I check. We had a big cull when he was 11. All the y7 kids went crazy with their new phones and school. Unfortunately a lot of parents do not monitor what goes on.

One chat had too many kids and some horrible behaviour so i just removed him and talked to him about it.

One other parent put his own message on a group WhatsApp to tell them to stop swearing please. This was quite effective.... probably be it was one of the Dads (annoyingly).

I removed the ability to be added to groups. Da can only join if he's sent an invite and then I check. We had a big cull when he was 11. All the y7 kids went crazy with their new phones and school. Unfortunately a lot of parents do not monitor what goes on.

One chat had too many kids and some horrible behaviour so j just removed him and talked to him about it.

Ohh sorry for double post. Not sure how that happened 🙈

My DS is almost 12 and when they first started on WhatsApp they all went through this phase it was mainly shit and bloody, now a year later it's calmed down loads. It's just words and as long as they are not being mean to each other I think you have to let them get it out of their system. You know they will be swearing when we are not there and they are with their mates we've all done it.

Is it illegal to have WhatsApp under 16 in the UK?

In Europe and the UK, the minimum age of use for WhatsApp is 16 years old.

Google ⬆️

It's 13 like most apps. Google is 13 and YouTube.

Do you know every single member of the group chat? I wouldn't get too concerned about swearing but group chats that aren't exclusively just his friends that you know personally, different story.

Personally I would let it go, a lot of the children swear in the playground at school and you will not hear it.

I think high school is when the bad language tends to ramp up. I’ve always taught my kids that there’s a time and a place. I use the term ‘grandma friendly’ language for being polite!

If it’s a WhatsApp group with mates and it’s not bullying or targeting I wouldn’t get worked up about it, but I’d be talking to them about modifying their language in polite company.

Depends on the intent of the swearing. I had a shit day - no issue with the for me.

Charlotte in our class is a fucking bitch…., he’d have his phone taken off him.