Social Media

[JustAMumof3]

Hi, unsure if this is the correct place to post.

Either way, can we speak about social media? So I’m 30, I grew up in the Bebo/MSN era 😂🤭 I had possibly every social media account going, did the whole ‘Facebook famous’ trend you name it.

6 years ago I left social media. I haven’t even entered the world of TikTok.. I’m aware of it, and the trends as people show me at work etc. I did briefly join Facebook again during Covid, but that literally was to keep in contact with family, but I deleted it not long after the 1st lockdown. (is MN social media? I dunno if it is this is literally all I have)

I have 3 children of myself. My eldest being 11. Who is in secondary school. He has a cheap £10 phone to ring me in an emergency while walking/from school.

Now, has anyone else stopped their children from having social media? I’ve explained to him why I dislike social media, but am I wrapping him up too much? We don’t do TV/Gaming etc. Do I put aside my own feelings about social media? He’s not asked me about social media. But I feel the question may come soon as he’s asking about a new phone.

I think minimum ages is 13 on apps? If you do get him a smartphone, put a parental control/monitoring app on it.

Three children of myself? What does that even mean?

11 is too young for social media regardless of parental feelings. Not allowing TV at 11 is a bit weird though.

I’m sure you can work out that it means she has 3 children.

But you don’t do any tv at all? In school children will talk about certain tv shows or films or certain games. No social media is one thing, but no tv and no gaming at all sounds extreme to me. Has he never seen a movie?

We have so much fun as a family playing Switch games or seeing tv shows together. I believe not every screen is the work of the devil.

Sorry, I didn’t explain it correctly. Like we watch TV, I’m not that strict/strange lol. I should say I don’t allow YouTube/Online gaming. Both my boys have Minecraft, but I don’t do Roblox/Fortnite.

🙄 well aren’t you clever?

That’s nothing unusual, it’s just age appropriate parenting. Keep with it, I wouldn’t be too strict with everything as it can just push them anyway as they get older, but he’s literally a child and isn’t even allowed social media profiles at this age so what you are doing is totally fine.

If they are like my sons then they are more likely to be bothered about the lack of gaming console than social media.

Yeah I’ve realised I’ve made it sound really strange. 😂 They watch TV, Netflix, play games (We only have an xBox) but not online. I don’t allow YouTube.

Both of my boys have an Xbox (I don’t allow games like Roblox/Fortnite, they play Minecraft) Truthfully it’s hardly ever used. They attend afterschool clubs every night. Weekends are filled with tennis, swimming lessons, football matches. Weekdays are boxing, horse riding, football practice.

Stick to what you're doing for as long as you possibly can.
SM causes more problem than it's worth.

We’ve done it gradually as I wanted them to learn and for them to be young enough to allow me to teach them safe use and etiquette. They have Snapchat now (year 9) but I was very hesitant. A few things have happened and each time each dc has come straight to me with “mum, help” so I’m happier that they know I’ll help and they are very open about what’s on their phones. I have said no to TikTok. Dd3 is disappointed as her friends have it but I work in sm so I’ve explained why and she’s understood and accepted that. I’ve said year 10 she can have it but if she loses herself into her phone or behaviour is impacted it’ll go.

Dumb phone and social media for our kids. Its more dangerous than smoking or lead paint. Stick to.your guns

You're actually on social media right now...

I did say, that a mumsnet account is literally all I have. I have no anything else like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok etc

I really don't think this is "strange". I think we need to advocate for people parenting how they want to. Myself and my family did some travelling and met so many wonderful families who are completely unplugged and disconnected from media and TV etc... it's not damaging to anyone at all. Who says you need TV or online platforms? I myself have a TV but my partner's parents don't have any and to be fair we don't use ours much!
I think do what you need to do, if they aren't asking for it then they're probably content without it. I would love to raise my kids without online platforms but sadly have had to give into the pressure of giving it to them to be able to fit in, I miss who my daughter was without a phone. She isn't yet on social media but it it causing a lot of difficulty in our house.

My kids have no social media. Oldest is 17. They have WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family- people they already know in real life. But no talking to strangers so no TikTok or instagram or facebook or whatever. Not even Roblox.

My son who is 12 has Instagram for his football interests. No Facebook or tiktok. I feel Instagram is the best of a bad bunch with less spam and hate pages than FB and TT.