Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 8
The eSafety Commissioner has
reported that 94% of Aussie kids have
used the internet by age 4. As such,
supervision and education is important
– and it’s never too late. In reality,
UNICEF Australia says taking a
proactive stance and talking to your
child about social media is the best
way forward:
Ask about their experiences
online, find out their interests, and
why they enjoy social media.
While there are pros to social
media, they also need to know the
dangers – bullying, harassment,
and predatory behaviour.
Engage with your kids and educate
them on the consequences of
negative behaviours like bullying
and tell them that it’s never okay.
Educate your kids on navigating
the internet safely, protecting their
privacy, and thinking before acting.
How can social media cause
harm?
Social media is ubiquitous. The ease of
accessing platforms like Facebook,
Instagram, and TikTok is now at the
touch of a button on your phone,
computer, and tablet. As of October
2024, Statista reports that over 5
billion users are subscribed to some
form of social media platform globally.
For perspective, that equates to over
63.8% of the global population.
The surge in tablet and mobile
popularity has also resulted in many of
Australia’s youth turning to iPads and
iPhones for entertainment. According
to the Royal Children’s Hospital, 59%
of primary school kids own a tablet
device, whereas 71% of teenagers
reported using their smartphones
daily.
