Social Media; Why use Real Names, Real Photos?

Parents say to us, all the time, there is no way that I am letting my child online using her real name. Why on earth would I do that, parents say. Even if the group is private, people post things beyond the private group. So my kid will be using a fake name, that's that. Why on

Facebook & The Police

Social media accounts ought to be private, which needs to regularly checked and verified. When kids use real name and photos, they behave better online that's a fact. The Police and Facebook agree real names and photos make children posting on Snapchat and TokTok more cautious.

Real Name, Real Photos and Privacy (called 'My Friends only' in Snapchat) is a This creates a circle of trust where kids don't abuse each other because their accounts are real, not fake. It's called 'social media not 'bully' media, and it should be honest, real, not fake. Many parents disagree strongly here, saying to keep my kid safe, I want you to use a fake name to keep their kids safe. We disagree equally strongly. 

Parents are responsible for Kids.

If your kids misbehave online, it will your door that they knock on and you the parents they speak with too.  

Fact Kids & Teenagers Phones are not private

Who said kids & teenagers phone is private. They are not.

Taking Back control of Social Media

Time for parents to do as they always did. So lets take back control for the two best reasons in the world. Firstly mum knows best, and secondly because I said so!

Many parents disagree strongly here, saying they want to keep their kid's safe, and will only allow their kids on social media if they use a fake name. Remember kids under 13 are not meant to be using social media. Kids should trust and not fear social media. Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram need to be a circle of trust, not a bush to hide behind disguising your identity to free you to be mean to others.

We think that kids ought, children ought to be encouraged in the classroom to follow this approach. It is not perfect, but it is what we have. 

• Setting up fake accounts encourages kids to behave badly
• Why would you permit your kid in such a group. 
• Open up his/her social media and ask him/her to identify her friends following her. 
• Can you as the parent identify his/her friends from their profiles? 
• If you can't identify them, who are they? Why are they there.
• We don't let strangers wander through our home. 
• Is the fake news brigade taking advantage of your kid? 
   

Your kids might say, trust me, mum, I know what I am doing, but no they don't know, they are just doing the same as their friends. Real Name, Real Photos and Privacy setting switched to 'Private', 'My Friends Only'. Friends, not followers, that what we want. Challenge your kids to explain the difference between Friends and Followers.

Police recommended
Tiktok introduce U16's 'Private Settings'
Followers seven times more likely to bully, say Facebook
It's a crime
 

Police Recommended

• The City of Tokyo Police & Several US police advise this approach
• Honesty & Truth values at the core of social media.
• Using your real name pictures means less likely to behave badly or make insulting or inappropriate remarks online.

TikTok 

• In January 2021 TikTok defaulted all new accounts to 'Private' for 13-16 year old
• It can be easily changed however it is a public step change from TikTok.
• It is an acknowledgement of the real problems that exist kids especially teenagers use of social media.
• It's a start on fixing the issue of teenagers misusing social media. 
   

Seven Times more likely to bully

• Facebook tell us that proxy account are seven times more likely to cause trouble online 
• Facebook owns Instagram, WhatsApp so they have the information,
• Fake news accounts are free to bully, hate, troll without fear of being identified.
• If your daughter has 1000s of followers, she will get bullied, so says Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook.

Social Media Threats need to be reported to the Police

• Report Social Media incidents to Police.
• It is a crime to harass people online, Police will act.
• We recommend going to the station if that's possible.
• Don't delete the offending message, Police will need it.
• Police will act.

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