The use of social networks by minors is a controversial topic, which always gives something to talk about. Many directly state that it is a potential danger, since this audience is the most susceptible to suffering attacks such as bullying, cyberbullying, or child abuse online. But thanks to the new Parental control functions on Instagram and Facebook, this browsing experience can be safe and peaceful.
The definitive measure should not be to prohibit minors from using these social networks, since although there are risks in them, they also have many positive things. Although it is difficult for many to admit, They are part of the technological development of which we must inevitably be part. What we can do is restrict certain actions, all of this is possible through parental control.
What are these new parental control functions on Instagram and Facebook?
Managing changes to account settings
In order to avoid the well-known cyberbullying, it is necessary for parents to take restrictive measures. For her, every time a teenager under 16 years of age wants to have greater exposure in her account, requires the consent of your parents or legal guardians.
Another option for which authorization is required is to allow certain users to establish communication through direct messages. This applies to accounts of which they are not followers.. To adjust the filter for content considered sensitive, it is also necessary that the linked account, that is, the father's, give his authorization.
These measures, despite seeming restrictive and controlling, are totally necessary. Due to the accessibility of the Internet, all types of people surf it. It is common for minors to face bullying and child abuse online. Unfortunately these actions are becoming more and more frequent, For this reason, Meta has decided to move forward with its measures to avoid this.
Users who are using social networks with said parental control, They will be notified of all changes established by their parents through a notification in the form of a window. Of way contrary, These same young people can request less strict measures, and changes to your account settings. To do this, parents will also be notified about their children's request, and will decide whether to access it or not.
Restrict private messages from unknown people
The company has also taken action regarding this issue. Interaction through direct messages on these social networks is frequent. But when there are minors, great care must be taken, They are easily influenced. For this reason, Meta has prohibited people over 19 years of age, considered adults, from sending messages to minors under 16 years of age.
Grooming is a social phenomenon, and Through social networks it is very easy to develop. Another measure taken is the limit of messages that can be sent to an account if they are not followed by it, this is only one. Thanks to this, the intensity with which users are disturbed on social networks will be less, giving greater privacy.
Stop the use of content related to child abuse
This is a very delicate topic and it has been growing in recent years, as technologies have gained popularity. To work towards its eradication, Meta developers have taken serious measures that are getting better and better.
Usually the minors are exposed to inappropriate content, images and messages with sexual content It is one of the most unpleasant. To prevent this from happening, these restrictive measures have been taken, where parents decide who establishes contact with their children.
Prevent identity risks
For this, it is necessary to stay away from the information published on social networks, as well as the contact that many young people establish with strangers. Identity theft is something they are exposed to, due to the exposure of personal data.
Through bots or fake profiles Most of the inappropriate use of young people's data originates, who are recommended to only interact with known people.
How to implement parental control on Facebook and Instagram for our children?
A very interesting option is Take a Break, through which teenagers will receive practical reminders on their full screen. This will prevent them from making excessive use of social networks, It is ideal for young people who are dependent on mobile phones, being those most likely to misuse it.
Also through Silent Mode all notifications will be silenced. Another function of this mode is sending responses automatically when activated, so they will know that they are not available for a certain time.
Adults can be aware of the followers and followed by their children, being able to manage them correctly. If they consider it necessary, they may restrict certain publications, and be aware of notifications of each action on the networks.
What steps do you need to follow to activate this feature?
On Instagram follow these steps
You must first access your Instagram account, this can be done from a mobile device, it works the same for both iOS and Android.
Then access the profile, do this by choosing the account icon in a circle, located in the corner of the screen at the bottom right.
You must click on the three vertical lines in the menu, these are located in the upper right corner of your smartphone.
Go to the Settings and privacy section.
Navigate within it, until you find the For Families tab and select Supervision.
At this time the account owner You will be redirected to the Family Center, where this entire parental control process will begin.
To achieve this just choose the Start option.
Then, it is necessary that link the Instagram account of the young person whom you want to supervise, when they request such action.
The minor will be notified with a link on their own Instagram account, the minor must accept said link to complete this parental control process.
These Goal Measures They are aimed at giving parents a more relevant role in the browsing experience of the minors. The objective is to make social networks trustworthy sites, where the upbringing and values of young people are not affected.
On Facebook do it this way
You position yourself inside the minor's Facebook account, go here to the Settings and privacy option.
You can do it through the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the home page.
Once there, choose the alternative Privacy verification.
This tool in question allows you to easily navigate to different settings, where access to content will be included, also the blocking of other accounts, and the configuration of limitations regarding friend requests.
Inside Facebook you will find several actions to limit, such as posts, stories and notifications.
If you want to know a little more about how to exercise parental control and better protect your children, this article may be interesting:
We hope that in this article you You have been informed about the new parental control functions on Instagram and Facebook. A safe experience on social networks is something that we must guarantee to young people, who are frequently victims of these inappropriate phenomena. If you know anything else about this topic that we should add, let us know in the comments.
