08/11/2022

Helping kids be kind on social media 

November 9th is Social Media Kindness Day. Set up in memory of Caroline Flack, on the day that would have been her birthday, it’s a great opportunity for us to consider our actions and the actions of others on social media platforms.  

More and more, children are active on social media. Whilst this can connect them to friends and help to build communities, it can also be a minefield.  

As parents, we know it’s important to give kids freedom as they develop, but it’s also key to keep them safe online.  

Tips for parents to keep kids safe online

Start off with exploring the safety and privacy settings on any apps before deciding if it’s appropriate for your child. Most platforms have the option to make the account private, not allow friend requests and hide the user’s location.  

If they do have an account, discuss this with them. Encourage them to: 

• Be their own person. Don’t pretend to be someone they’re not, be authentic.
• Be nice. Social media can seem anonymous, but never post hurtful things, there’s a real person receiving the message.
• Think about what you’re posting. Once it’s out, it’s out for everyone to see.
• Don’t add/accept anyone you don’t know in real life as your friends. People can build up false profiles and they may not be all that they appear to be. 
• Never give your address/location on social media. Don’t share personal details, including what school you go to or any information about where you live. 

Get more tips from NSPCC  and YouthFirst. 

See our blog on keeping kids safe online.

Keeping kids kind on social media 

Social media kindness day suggests: 

• Choose your words wisely. Be authentic, but be conscious of your wording. 
• Allow people to voice their views as long as they’re not at the expense of others. 
• Consider the consequences of what you post. Be honest, balanced and kind.
• Don’t humiliate others. If you see something you don’t like, offer a kindness check, respectfully.
• Remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation. Don’t get embroiled in online arguments.

See more tips from Social Media Kindness day. 

We know Social Media poses various challenges, regardless of age. Head over to Social Media Kindness Day for a full set of resources.  

Barracudas is committed to promoting kindness. We have defined codes of conduct at our activity camps and don’t tolerate negative behaviour.