The big 3 social media apps for kids right now

What social network apps are kids using today? How can I make sure my kids are safe on these apps? How am I supposed to keep up? How can I say ‘no’ when supposedly every other child is allowed this social network?

These are some of the frequently asked questions I receive from parents when it comes to their kids starting out on social media. I always advocate that it is not the technology itself that puts kids at risk but rather the users of the technology and the behaviours when using these apps. I also always say that you will never keep up with every site or app your child visits so we need to arm them with the skills, the thinking and the behaviours to be safe wherever they find themselves online.

And this is certainly very true.

But we can also be aware of the apps kids are spending their time on in order to have a greater understanding of the types of ways kids are interacting. How the technology allows them to share content and how kids are using it to communicate. And of course, how are kids getting in to trouble on these apps.