Common Sense Parenting on Instagram

By: Charles Steiner

It may or may not shock you that many parents do not have a clue what their children are doing on social media websites like Facebook and Instagram. This can be a very bad thing, as there is much trouble that your precious children can get into on these sites. I’m going to expose some of these things, and share with you some helpful tips about how to help keep your children out of trouble on these sites.

I follow several children on the social media app Instagram. These children access this website with their IPod touches, IPads, IPhones, and other electronic devices. I first became aware of Instagram because I heard elementary age children describe it as “kind of like Facebook except for kids.” I have also heard parents make this same statement. Being the good youth minister that I am, I decided to get an Instagram account as a new way to enhance communication. Is Instagram “kind of like Facebook except for kids?” No it is not. Under the section called Terms on Instagram.com it states as rule #1 “You must be 13 years old or older to use this site.” This is the exact same rule that Facebook has. By the way, Facebook owns Instagram.

Rule #2 states “You may not post nude, partially nude, or sexually suggestive photos.” Facebook has a very similar policy. Many children and teenagers are frequently posting pictures of themselves and others in swimsuits and other revealing clothing. One of the many dangers of this is that once you put something on the Internet, it’s on the Internet. You can’t ever truly delete it. There is no telling what perverts out there have saved the pictures and what they will do with them, not to mention what sexual temptation and sin it could lead to among their peers.

Speaking of perverts, parents, please talk to your children about not allowing people to follow them on Instagram whom they do not know. Just because the middle-aged man who lives in his mother’s basement looks harmless, doesn’t mean he is. Also, just because the profile says it’s a 13-year-old girl, it could really be a sexual predator in disguise. Be careful! I would also strongly suggest making your profile page private. If you don’t make it private the whole world can see your pictures and start following you! I also suggest, not following anyone you don’t know.

You also need to be aware that your children could be looking at sexually suggestive photos on Instagram without you knowing, even if you are a good parent, and check their account often. Most celebrity accounts are not private. There is also a place where you can search for pictures using a keyword. All it takes is a quick trip to the clear search history section, and mom and dad will never know. Don’t be deceived. According to FamilySafeMedia.com, 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed porn on the Internet. I hope that the information in this article has helped to open your eyes to things you need to be doing as a parent to keep your children out of trouble on Instagram.