Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Alexey Boldin

Facebook launches advice site with tips on how to keep children safe online

The social media platform said it was responding to huge demand from parents.

FACEBOOK HAS LAUNCHED a new ‘parent’s portal’ to start conversations about how to keep children safe on the social media platform.

The portal is a new part of the Facebook’s ‘safety centre’ and offers people advice on how to control what children see on the site.

Facebook said the portal is dedicated to educating parents on how Facebook works and includes tips for talking with children about staying safe online and provides access to resources from experts around the world.

Julie De Bailliencourt, head of safety policy at Facebook said the company was responding to huge demand from parents.

She said: “Every day, parents come to Facebook to ask for advice in groups, share pictures of their kids or just stay connected with family in different places. And for many parents, they also have questions about how Facebook works once their children join. That’s why today we are launching the parent’s portal.”

Online security expert Simon Grehan from Webwise said parents need to take responsibility for teaching their kids how to stay safe when they go on the internet.

He said:

In every aspect of development, from learning to cross the road, ride a bike or swim, parents teach, guide and support their children. It should be no different when it comes to their online lives.

Facebook issued the following tips for parents to keep children safe:

  • Engage earlyFriend your child when they join Facebook as it gets harder to do so if you wait.
  • Set ground rules - When your child is old enough to join Facebook and other social media, talk to them about safe sharing.
  • Trust yourself - If you find that your child responds best to a negotiated agreement, create a contract that you can both sign.
  • Ask children to help – Get your child to show you how to set up a Facebook page and how to toggle privacy settings. According to studies, children will jump at the opportunity to teach their parents something.

The portal can be found here.

Read: “Is there literally nothing that can shame you?” – Syria, Russia and Iran condemned at UN meeting >

Read: Tests on toddlers ‘can show who’s likely to end up behind bars’ >

 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute DMurph
    Favourite DMurph
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 9:39 AM

    Tip 1. Keep them off facebook

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mursim
    Favourite mursim
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 10:16 AM

    Parents who post pictures of their children online are not going to care -as they already have no interest in their children’s wellbeing / privacy or safety.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Swan
    Favourite Darren Swan
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 10:27 AM

    Without reading the article my advice is that the safest way to keep children safe online is to keep them offline

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eye_c_u
    Favourite Eye_c_u
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 8:28 AM

    Beginning oh the end of Facebook. Kids want unregulated and will gravitate towards untrackable. Hence snap chat as they know parents are not watching. Younger generation picks platform of choice moving forward not the older. So watch as younger folks pull away from Facebook to something else. Oh FYI not saying it’s right that’s kids should not be supervised but it is what it is. The more you regulate the more you kill social sites

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 8:30 AM

    Not quite sure it’s the beginning of the end for F/B

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eye_c_u
    Favourite Eye_c_u
    Report
    Dec 14th 2016, 10:40 AM

    They may morph but oldies won’t keep something going as we are a finite number. Remember it was young folk that got Facebook going. If it loses the cool aspect then young people move on to the next big thing. I do have a Facebook yes only thing that keeps me is the sign in with Facebook short cuts that was a smart move but others will follow

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds