Does your child have an Instagram account? Why you should be afraid - very afraid...

If you think Instagram is just a cool tool to share your clever photos - think again...

It’s leaving Facebook in the dust for a lot of pre-teens - and it’s not all rainbows and butterflies on there. Instagram is a lightening-fast social media hub. It’s streamlined, easy to use and can be a fantastic portal for sharing creative images and capturing special moments. Unfortunately, like most social media, there is a dark side out there - especially for kids. Once photos are posted, others can comment, leaving children vulnerable to inappropriate content, hurt feelings and more. 

Although Instagram is technically restricted to those younger than 13 , it’s easy for any kid with an iTunes account to navigate around those rules. Once they’re on, their photos can be viewed by anyone, anywhere, if the settings are on default. Those photos often include location - and remember that’s in real time. If that’s not enough to scare you, maybe Instaporn will. Although there are rules against adult content on Instagram, there are only a handful of screeners watching more than 80 million users for violations. If your child is on Instagram, it’s a good idea to follow them yourself and keep your eye on who they are following and who is photo-following your child.