Finnish expert shares tips for safer social media use among children in new video series

Finnish children and adolescents primarily use popular social media platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube for video sharing, content creation, and connecting with friends. However, these platforms also expose users to bullying and harassment.

To ensure a safer online environment, a series of six instructional videos has been created, focusing on adjusting settings in these applications. Maija Komonen, an expert from Someturva—an organization dedicated to preventing social media bullying—provided targeted advice on enhancing safety settings. The videos were recorded on a device running Android 14, although the instructions may vary slightly across different devices.

WhatsApp is often the first social media platform for many children, serving as a family communication tool. In recent years, the app has integrated features resembling other social media, such as channels for updates and content sharing. A crucial tip for parents is to limit the use of emojis that can be offensive in channels, as these channels are publicly visible to all users.

Concerns about large WhatsApp groups sharing harmful content also emerged in late 2023. Parents can prevent their child from being added to such groups by adjusting their privacy settings.

TikTok’s popularity has sparked discussions regarding its potential for addictive content, leading many parents to restrict its use, particularly for younger children. For TikTok accounts, it is recommended to set them to private and limit who can comment on their videos.

Snapchat has gained notoriety for incidents of sexual misconduct affecting minors, highlighting the importance of privacy settings to limit contact from strangers.

YouTube remains widely used, and it’s advised that young users keep their accounts private to manage potentially harmful comments and content visibility.

In summary, implementing privacy settings across these platforms can significantly enhance the safety of children and young users.