Instantgrams ... How old is safe?

tibawo

What are people's feelings on Instantgrams?

I have just found my ten year old has an account, she had thirty followers some of whom she did not know.

I would like to feel she is sensible etc but had to explain to her about backgrounds in photo, school uniform etc and looking into her followers could easily point out how they could now easily work out where her friends hung out.

I don't know much about them to be honest. Am I right in they are another social media craze? Am I being too protective?

trolleyrun

I don't have kids, but if I did, they wouldn't be allowed to have a social network account at age 10. I'd certainly monitor what my child was getting up to online.

msb5262

Hi OP,
If you mean Instagram, the short answer is NOT SAFE and also NOT ALLOWED. The first line of their terms states that you must be at least 13 years old.
HTH
MsB

tibawo

Yes i did mean Instagram .. Told you i was not really up on it as technology moves so fast.
I saw the 13 bit and I did mention this in my chat. I have been reading more into it and she says she can't delete account but has taken details off but she's asleep now so will look tomoz.

lika_86

Instagram is probably one of the safer social networks, as far as I am aware, there is no private communication (all communication is by comments on photos), if her account is public then you can view what she posts and monitor it. I think it's sensible to set down ground rules as mentioned in your post, but I'd be more concerned if you were talking about Facebook to be honest.

rachhh

It's pretty easy to access rather explicit content on there... even by accident if it comes up in the 'popular' tab. Definitely not suitable for a 10 year old.

It is possible to delete the account.
Go to profile view (furthest right tab on the bottom) then press the cog in the top right.
There should then be a link to the Instagram Help Centre. On the page you're then taken to, there is a link to 'tips for parents' and there you'll find a link to delete the account of an underage child.

Rachylou1981

Unfortunately anyone can follow anyone on there and talk to you via comments on your photo which can go far if you put a hashtag on as it goes into a group with photos with the same hashtag i.e. strangers can view her pics and then profile.

There is however a privacy option she can use.

I would check that the photos cannot be copied if she puts ones up of herself - I am on instagram but have never checked of the safety of it as never thought to do so but I would if I knew kids were going to be on my page i.e. children in my family

peachyprice

tibawo wrote: »

I she says she can't delete account but has taken details off but she's asleep now so will look tomoz.

Hmm, think she's telling you porkie pies.


http://help.instagram.com/448136995230186/

michael243

It can be a pain sometimes with unwanted rude comments, which can be quite graphic,

Also it can be deleted quite easily

FatVonD

Even if the pics can't be copied they could still be screen grabbed. I don't think you're over reacting at all.

Seanymph

My kids had no social media until they were about 14.

There is a very disturbing article in the Guardian this morning:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/21/warning-parents-children-internet-use

showing one in five primary children have met someone previously unknown to them off the internet. On the parenting forum I use (no, not the one you are thinking of!) I posted because I wondered who on earth the parents are who don't supervise their children and monitor this sort of thing explaining the dangers.

Seems a bit more believable now.