NSPCC want to know about the apps your kids use - share to win a £300 voucher.NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

NSPCC says: “Most parents are brilliant at keeping their child safe in the physical world, through daily chats and reminders. It should be exactly the same in the online world too, so our #ShareAware campaign aims to get parents chatting to kids about their online lives, just like they would their day at school.These chats are made much easier if Mums and Dads understand their child’s online world – what games they like and the apps they use - and we’d recommend that parents explore the games and sites their child likes, alongside them.

“So to help you, NSPCC and O2 have created Net Aware. This site (and app) provides an overview of nearly 40 of the most popular apps and games used by young people. Our site and app will give the official age and the age which parents and young people think it’s appropriate for. It also provides tips from O2 Gurus on a range of topics, including privacy settings to adjust and the chance of risky content. For more information, you can visit Net Aware or download the Net Aware app on iOS or Android.”

Did you know that 1 in 4 8-11 year olds have a social networking account, despite the minimum age for most being 13? It can be difficult to understand your DC’s activity on games and apps, especially if you don’t know how to use them yourself. That’s why NSPCC want to know about the apps and games your DC use, and how you make sure they’re staying safe. Post on this thread with your hints and tips for talking about DC’s use of apps and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).
Whether you think Minecraft is a minefield, or you’re a pro Snapchatter, NSPCC want to know how involved you are with your DC’s apps and games. Post on the thread with your views about apps, whether or not you use them yourself, and share your tips for making sure your DC is using them safely.

One lucky MNer who posts on this thread will be randomly selected to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks so much for taking part, and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Always get them to add you as a friend so you can keep an eye on what they/friends are posting

Our boys are addicted to Minecraft.
However, we only let them play this on their tablets, which have been disconnected fron the internet.

When using the laptop we monitor what they are watching. Though i am considering blocking youtube.

only has access to child friendly apps and under supervision, I know this will change with age and we will have to be very vigilant and limit times and access.

I worry about access to inappropriate YouTube videos.

My DS is almost four. He only uses a screen for one app, Reading Eggs, an early educational app. And he is fully supervised when using it. It's scary how quickly they become competent on screen use, and I plan to limit access and supervisr it in person for a long time yet! No screen as babysitters here!

My kids love youtube

Ds1&2 (5&6) like roblox, minecraft, YouTube
Ds3 (2) has the toca apps and also likes YouTube

none as theyre supervised when using a laptop tablet or phone with an adult in the room.

my eldest is 15 she has a facebook account but i monitor what she posts she doesnt have any photos of herself on it and if she wants to download any apps she knows she has to ask m first

My LO is 2 and sometime she uses the peekaboo games on my phone. It's fun and educational and doesn't last for long. Plus a great distraction.

Luckily the kids are so into sport, never have much time for social media - good job too, as I dont understand how any of it works!

My 13 year old has Snapchat and Instagram which are his most used apps for chatting to his mates, also Minecraft, YouTube etc etc. He has only recently been allowed Snapchat and Insta again after about a 2 month ban due to bad behaviour at school - he is now allowed them on a weekend but we delete them off his phone on a Sunday night! He was allowed them back on the proviso that we can check them at any time.

My 10 year old watches YouTube videos on his iPad but that's about it, no social media allowed (nor asked for yet, thankfully!)

My husband and I have both talked to my son about the dangers....but I feel it is something that needs a constant reminder. I make sure my son is using the laptop when I am present but am worried about when he is in friends houses especially those that have older children.
I use twitter and facebook but at the moment my son does not have an account with either.

My DC only use the CBeebies apps, playtime, storytime, and island. They can use YouTube but only when I surpervise. No social media accounts as yet!

I have no idea how apps work or what they are really, so I don't use them and my 6year old isn't aware of them I don't think. He only plays games on sites like cbbc and lego and I'm with him when he does. It does worry me that he will know more about technology than I will!!

Luckily, we are quite savvy with the online world (being addicted to it ourselves), so we're pretty much on top of our DC's usage, though when she mentioned Google by name the other day and Shopkins images we needed a quick sense check of what she had been able to do!

My kids have Amazon fire's, where you can monitor what they download. They can only download from age appropriate sections, or you can download it for them. I think this is a really good idea, as it stops them looking at inappropriate things.

My older DD is nearly 6. She gets occasional shots on our tablets.

My main problem is ads - you can be on something seemingly quite child friendly, but then there is video ads for graphic sniper games

As a result I tend to stick to CBeebies and Peppa Pig. But now she's getting a bit old for them...

My 4 year old loves watching you tube, he particularly likes watching other kids play with toys that he actually has.
They don't have a tablet/pad of their own. They have allocated time on mummy's tablet.
My 8 year old likes watching you tube too.
Screen time is limited. And I have the parental controls on.

Little one uses the Cbeebies interactive app especially Mr Tumble and that is all he has access to just now, older one likes minecraft and kids youtube.

Ds aged 3 plays games but is supervised. I think there are many fake peppa pig videos on YouTube, they initially look real but peppa is evil in them.

He enjoys mario run, teach your monster to read and monument 2 - which are paid for apps. I have set up security so you cannot do one click purchases on anything.

He uses our technology and not every day. It's hard though as technology is a large part of the world now and exploring it is important. We have put off buying him his own kindle fire (or similar) So far, but I imagine we will in a couple of years.

I limit the time my daughter goes on it, stay in the room she is in so I can see what she's doing/ viewing. I use parental controls on the ipad too.

My son is too young for Facebook and I intend to keep him off of it for as long as possible, along with most other forms of social media, I managed to do without it as a kid and so I don't see why he can't, these days its nothing but a breeding ground for bullying and the like. He does have an Xbox One and he plays online with his friends on there, most of which are his schoolmates or friends of theirs, he plays it on the TV in the room so I am always aware of who he is online with and what he is doing. I have reiterated he is not to accept invites from anyone he doesn't know or who sounds like an adult, not to give any personal information out and to leave a party chat online if there is any unpleasant behaviour or anything he feels might be bordering on inappropriate.

My children ask before they download an app so i can check it and see if its ok for them. I am constantly checking what they are using and that they arent connecting with other users as i dont think that doing that is safe at all.

I wont let them use youtube anymore after seeing what was coming up in the suggestions when my daughter was watching minecraft videos on there. They werent appropriate at all.

My children understand why i am like i am with them about apps and who they are connecting with but it does cause problems especially with my eldest (shes 14)

She wants facebook/instagram/snapchat and twitter but i wont let her. I know facebook is 13 year olds but i dont think its safe at all and you never know that its a safe as they seem to think they are even when all privacy is set on high.

My son has just turned 5 and I have a battle on my hands with him and my partner. Daddy is a gaming addict and loves to play computer and mobile gaming- son likes to copy daddy and would rather play a game than read a book much to my disappointment. I'm already concerned with regards to safety especially with YouTube and related videos he watches. Have recently put on the YouTube kids app so is filtered.