Parental Control Software: The Pros and Cons of Monitoring Your Child’s Social Media Use

As a parent, your top priority is keeping your child safe. Social media plays a significant role in  every child’s life, so monitoring activity and ensuring their child’s online safety is essential.  Parental control software helps check your child’s social media use, but is it worth it? This software raises moral questions, and its usage has pros and cons. Let us check out some  of them here.

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What is Parental Control Software

Parental control software is a type of software that parents or guardians can use to monitor and  control their children’s online activity. This software is installed on the child’s device and allows  parents to set limits on the websites their child can visit, the apps they can use, and the amount  of time they can spend online.

These software packages have become necessary because the use of social media among  young children is only expected to rise as more youngsters gain access to the internet.

ExpressVPN reveals that more U.S. kids (63%) than U.K. kids (53%) are on social media. And  these kids spend an average of 28 minutes daily on social platforms.

The article showed 87% of parents say they allow their children to watch videos on sites such  as YouTube and Netflix. And over 80% allow their kids to play online games, while 28% say  they have no problem giving their children access to the internet so that they can read articles. In addition, these children face threats of cyberbullying from their peers and lying about their  age online. Many social networking sites require users to be over 13, such as TikTok and  Instagram, but that won’t prevent children from attempting to access them.

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Pros of Monitoring Children’s Social Media Use with  Parental Control Software

Prevention of Cyberbullying

The parental control software can help parents identify instances of cyberbullying. That includes  harassing or threatening messages, comments, or posts and alerts parents so that they can  intervene. By watching a child’s online activity, parents can take action to prevent cyberbullying  and provide support to their child if necessary.

According to Net Nanny’s article, parents should limit internet time for their children because it  enforces productive internet usage, preventing children from cyberbullying or viewing random  sites. A timed limit allows children a degree of free roam, without as much risk of procrastination  or reliance on the internet, without completely restricting access.

Protecting Children from Inappropriate Content

The software includes content filtering features that prevent their children from accessing  inappropriate or harmful content online. Content with violence or mature themes is filtered and  blocked, protecting their children from exposure to harmful material and keeping them safe  online.

Source: software.informer.com

Identifying Signs of Online Predators

With the constant improvement of these software programs, parents can identify signs of online  predators, like suspicious messages, requests for personal information, or attempts to meet in  person, and alert them to take action. That isn’t foolproof, but it provides parents with a feeling  of safety and security when their child accesses the internet.

Cons of Monitoring Your Child’s Social Media Use  with Parental Control Software

Observing your child’s social media use with parental control software is a popular choice for  many parents who want to keep their children safe online. It’s essential to consider the potential  downsides to this approach.

Violating children’s privacy

Monitoring your children’s social media use can violate their privacy. Children have the right to  privacy just like adults, and respecting their boundaries is essential. Constant monitoring can  make your child feel like they are being watched and controlled, harming their emotional well being. Trust and closeness between parents and their children are paramount, as the more safe  a child feels, the more likely they are to disclose issues with cyberbullying or predators.

Creating Trust Issues between Parent and Child

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Excessive monitoring can create trust issues between parents and their children. Children may feel like their parents don’t trust them, leading to a breakdown in communication  and making them less likely to confide in their parents. That can damage the relationship  between parent and child, making establishing a healthy and open dialogue difficult. An article by The Conversation revealed that “if a parent fails to tell the child they are being  monitored, and the child finds out, this is simply a breach of trust”. That provides more issues in  the long term, where parents acting on behalf of their children’s safety drives a wedge between  the parent and child, causing the child to distrust their parent.

Limiting Children’s Independence and Autonomy

The monitoring software can limit children’s independence and autonomy. As children grow up,  they must learn how to navigate the internet responsibly and decide what content to consume.  Excessive monitoring can prevent children from developing these skills and hinder their ability to  independently make responsible decisions, making them more vulnerable when they start  college or leave home.

False Sense of Security

Using these software products without proper orientation can create a false sense of security.  While it may give parents peace of mind that they are monitoring their child’s online activity, it’s  important to remember that this is not infallible. Children can still encounter harmful content and  dangerous people online, and parents should not rely solely on software to keep their children  safe.

Key Features to Look for in Parental Control Software  for Social Media Monitoring

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As a parent, when looking for software for social media monitoring, there are several key  features to keep in mind. These features can help ensure your child is safe using social media.

Content Filtering and Blocking

One of the critical features to look for is content filtering and blocking, which enables parents to  control what their children can access online—blocking inappropriate content and limiting  access to specific websites to improve children’s online safety.

Monitoring Social Media Activity

Another essential feature to consider is social media activity monitoring. With this feature, you  can monitor your child’s social media accounts and track their posts, messages, and comments.  That lets you stay up-to-date on their online activity and identify potential risks or concerns.

Real-time Alerts

Real-time alerts are another vital feature of parental control software. These alerts notify parents  of suspicious activity or concerning behaviour, such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or  potential predators. That allows parents to take immediate action and protect their children from  harm.

Takeaway

The parental control software can monitor your child’s social media use and keep them safe  online. Limiting screen time and preventing exposure to inappropriate content can help parents  set healthy boundaries. It is necessary to weigh the pros and cons carefully and to use such  software in conjunction with open communication and trust-building measures. Ultimately,  deciding to use parental control software is personal and should be based on individual family  needs and values.