Social media platforms have become an undeniable part of teenage life. While they offer opportunities for connection and self-expression, they also present unique safety challenges. One growing concern is the issue of sextortion, a form of blackmail that involves coercing someone into sending sexually explicit content.
Sextortion cases have been on the rise in recent years, with teenagers and young adults being particularly vulnerable. The combination of digital naivety and a desire for social validation can leave them susceptible to online predators. These predators may use various tactics, including flattery, manipulation, or threats, to pressure victims into sending explicit photos or videos.
Source: Instagram
Recognizing the seriousness of this issue, Instagram has been actively implementing features aimed at enhancing teen safety on the platform. The platform’s recent update focuses on empowering teens to control who can interact with them.
Limiting Interactions: Close Friends Only Mode
The new feature allows users to switch to a “Close Friends” only mode, effectively limiting direct messages (DMs) and comments to a pre-selected list of trusted individuals. This creates a safer space for teens to share and express themselves without fear of unwanted attention.
The update expands existing functionalities by allowing users to mute interactions with anyone who is not already on their Close Friends list. This empowers users to manage their experience and avoid unwanted messages or comments, even from accounts they follow.
Source: Instagram
These updates build upon Instagram’s previous efforts to create a safer environment for teens. The platform has implemented features to detect and remove abusive content, provide reporting tools, and offer educational resources on topics like online safety and healthy relationships.
While Instagram’s efforts are commendable, experts acknowledge the ongoing challenge of staying ahead of evolving online threats. Predators constantly adapt their tactics, and the platform requires a multi-pronged approach to ensure user safety.
Creating a truly safe online environment requires collaboration. Teens need to be aware of the risks associated with sextortion and how to protect themselves. This can be achieved through open communication with parents and responsible use of social media platforms.
Parents, on the other hand, can play a crucial role in educating their children about online predators and the importance of online privacy. They can also monitor their children’s online activity and encourage them to report any suspicious or abusive behaviour.
Finally, the responsibility lies with platforms like Instagram to invest in robust safety measures and continually develop features that empower users to control their online experience.
There’s no denying that our world is becoming increasingly digital. We have graduated from writing letters and licking envelopes to writing short messages and video calls. What’s more, we have TV shows that we can watch on demand rather than wait for a scheduled time of day. But, we’ve never thought of how our children will redefine what it means to be digital natives.
Once upon a time, it was cool to be that generation who grew up with iPads, iPhones, laptops and more. However, now, after years of academic fear-mongering and negativity, we find ourselves at a crossroads of understanding how these gadgets can be more than just causes for concern, but also tools for learning and channelling the creative curiosity that is so innate in children. We are now looking for ways to make sure our children are ahead of the curve with an inherent curiosity and understanding of technology and gadgets.
However, with all the options available from iPads to Samsung tablets, parents are either at a loss on how to cater for children with gadgets or they are simply overwhelmed by the choices. Then, you have emerging companies like myFirst that are looking at creating gadgets specifically for children with inherent features and guard rails so parents. It’s an emerging niche in tech that we love to call kiddie tech.
Feature-rich Gadgets that are Inherently Safe for Kids
Kiddie tech isn’t as childish as the moniker may allude to. Instead, companies like myFirst are looking to create child-safe devices that address both the child’s needs and parental concerns. However, they are not in the business of dumbing down tech for kids either. Instead, the products being developed for children are very much up-to-date devices with all the bells and whistles we’d expect to see in a regular tablet or smartwatch.
Take, for instance, the myFirst Camera lineup. This lineup of cameras allows kids to explore and express themselves through the camera lens. What’s more, it’s not a make-believe camera – no – it’s a fully functional digital camera that children can use with an SD card to capture what they see. Yes, it’s a digital camera, something we adults have left in the past. However, with devices like the myFirst Camera, parents are allowed a small window into their children’s point of view as they capture what is most important to them. Paired with items like the myFirst Frame Live, these perspectives can be shared with loved ones beyond just the nuclear family.
“Kids also just want to have fun. For our wearable smartphones (WatchPhones), it would have been too easy to include games to keep the kids entertained, but we don’t have games in our watches because we want kids to be able to focus on the fun element of being social with communication, not glued to a screen on games all day.”
G-Jay Yong, Founder of MyFirst
These fully functional devices not only allow us to interact more meaningfully with kids, it also allow the children to become familiar with technology in a more guided manner. Things are sandboxed to an experience that is very specific and enriching for the children. When was the last time you went to the beach or a family dinner and set your child off on a photo journey? Did you learn anything from their unique perspective?
Addressing Parental Concerns Both Digitally and In Real Life
It’s not just about perspective when it comes to gadgets, parents are concerned. We are constantly bombarded by the media about kidnappings, dangerous online interactions and more. These situations not only strike fear in parents but also create a sense of dread when devices are passed to our kids. But, what if there was a way to alleviate your fears with a device?
Devices like the myFirst Fone R2 have been built to alleviate these fears. The 4G-enabled watch allows you to know where your child is even without a smartphone. It also gives them the ability to contact you if anything were to get a little awry. Yes – it is a smartwatch with a camera on it but it does come with guard rails. These guard rails allow the experience to be unique for each child but also safe.
Speaking of, when it comes to data privacy, parents can rest at ease with companies like myFirst. They have a robust system to ensure that data is stored privately and securely. MyFirst clarified, “When a family onboards to myFirst, the KYC is done on the parent. The parent then creates a kids sub-account for each kid. This way, myFirst only has personally identifiable information of the parents, and no personally identifiable information of the kids whatsoever.” Of course, if it’s our data on the internet, we want it to be safe too. We’ve been assured that myFirst also takes every precaution when it comes to that.
Striking A Balance of Safety and Fun
There is no denying that children want to be engaged in an entertaining way. More often than not, digital experiences trump the experiences we can provide them, especially with the limited time and space we may have. So, it’s not just about making things safe and secure, it’s about striking that balance between safe and fun.
In the words of G-Jay Yong, Founder of myFirst, “myFirst is built from the ground up for kids so we build in the pros, and build out the downsides, so it’s safe and suitable for kids and the family.” He emphasizes that “[myFirst devices] serve as the kids’ first tech devices so they can benefit from all the good that technology can bring to our lives like communication and being sociable, without all the bad stuff usually associated with technology.”
This sentiment on utilizing technology for the benefit of Children is growing in today’s society. Parents are looking to stimulate their children without creating gadget addicts. This comes with a heavy responsibility of keeping an eye on interactions, apps and even websites that your children could interact with. However, devices built for children have created a safe sandbox where parents can rest at ease as their children grow, explore devices and express their curiosity.
