Pre-teens should not be allowed to open social media accounts, a top police official has said, emphasising the importance of parents monitoring their children’s online activities to shield them from predators.
Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar also appealed to parents to assume their duties and encourage the young to pursue their hobbies, including reading, sport, craft or other engaging activities.
“Social media platforms can be beneficial or harmful, depending on how it is used,” Col Dr Bahar pointed out, while speaking on the Al Aman show.
“Regardless, parents must monitor their children’s activities online.
“However, their first and most important duty is to provide enjoyable alternatives for the young, away from video games and social media.
“Second, do not allow anyone under the age of 13 to open any account on social media. And, if you do allow, be vigilant and do your duties as a parent to ensure children are safe online,” he added.
According to studies from numerous institutions, including the University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University, social media has several negative effects on pre-teens aged between nine and 13.
Depression, anxiety and mental health risks are among the most significant impacts, with research linking frequent social media exposure to brain changes in areas tied to emotion, impulse control and social sensitivity, correlating with a decrease in life satisfaction.
Cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts, low self-esteem and concerns about body image and appearance are reportedly at an all-time high.
Additionally, lower attention span, cognitive load and academic distractions have also been recorded due to increasing smartphone usage and frequent notifications, which impair memory, focus and productivity.
Other notable issues include sleep disruption that affects physical health, privacy risks, screen addiction, compulsive use, and the risk of being taken advantage of by cybercriminals.
Should children need a social media account for any reason, parents must familiarise themselves with ‘family settings’, which is a feature on most platforms today, Col Dr Bahar advised.
“These settings serve the child and the family as you can determine the time and duration of use, and until what time during the day,” he said.
“This service also lets you know who is attempting to communicate with your children.
“Just as you should verify your children’s real-life friends’ morale and characters, you must also check the accounts your children follow on the platforms.
“You can control sensitive topics and prevent them from reaching your children, without needing to spy on them. It provides protection until they grow up and realise that communicating with their family in real life is better and more blessed.”
Col Al Bahar warned parents against complacency and stressed the need for them to be actively involved in their children’s activities.
“Whether you are a father or mother, you are an educator and so do your role,” he said.
“Even if it is minimal, go through the security settings on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok and learn ways to protect your children from harmful content. Fulfil your role in the family and ensure your children’s online safety.”
The GDN reported last month that 17 cases of online harassment and blackmail targeting children were handled by the authorities during the first half of this year.
Interior Ministry’s Cyberspace Child Protection Unit head Lieutenant Colonel Maryam Yousif Al Dhaen highlighted the risks posed by certain online games and applications, some of which encourage children to befriend strangers and share personal photos to earn points – making it easier for cyber criminals to blackmail and exploit them.
Children aged between 10 and 15, she noted, were the most vulnerable.
Child-safety experts advise keeping devices in shared family spaces, banning phones from bedrooms, limiting Internet time and monitoring unexplained physical or emotional changes in children, warning these may be signs of online abuse.
The GDN earlier reported that Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its parliament approved the world’s strictest laws.
The government says its ban, which comes into effect in December, is designed to limit the harmful impacts of social media. The policy has been touted as a world-first and is being watched closely by leaders globally. Under the new laws, platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent Australian children from creating accounts on their sites, and deactivate existing ones.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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