Social Media & Live Streaming

Resources

SWGfL explore how Influencer Culture can impact a Young Person’s Wellbeing.

Get advice from Internet Matters experts on the increasing impact of social media influencers on young people's lives and what you can do to ensure the influence of these influencers on your child stays positive.

Top tips on how to help your child create a positive digital footprint and make their online presence work for them

Social Media Scams

Internet Matters together with Barclays Digital Eagles, have created this guide where you’ll learn more about how social media can influence young people’s spending habits and how to equip them with the skills to recognise social media scams.

Thinking critically about news on social media.

Encourage children and young people to think critically about news they see on social media with expert advice from Internet Matter's Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov and Lauren Seager-Smith.

Children love watching videos online.  This article, produced by Thinkuknow, looks at how to talk to your child about inappropriate content and keeping safe when watching videos.

Get tools and tips to support your child’s digital wellbeing on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. See guides on how to help your child navigate platforms safely.

If your child is using social networking sites to chat to friends and family or share their latest selfie, take a look at Internet Matters's list of social media guides to get you up to speed on the most popular platforms and help them set the right privacy settings.

Find expert advice to make the most of the screen time and help children share safely.

How Can Social Media Affect Body Image?

In this guidance, SWGfL look at this and how you can support a young person in your care, who may be affected by this issue.

 

 

What are social media algorithms? Advice for parents and carers.

In this guidance, SWGfL look at this and how you can support a young person in your care, who may be affected by this issue.

 

 

Apps & Websites

Threads app offers users a Twitter-like experience with easy links to Instagram.

Learn from Internet Matters how the app works and how you can make sure your child’s time online stays positive.

This social network app is from the creators of Musical.ly. As Musical.ly officially went offline earlier this year, TikTok (known as Douyin in China) has taken its place offering the user the ability to watch musical clips, create short clips up to 60 seconds and add special effects to them.

BeReal is a social media app that gives users 2 minutes to upload real content of themselves. How might this impact young people and what should you watch out for?

Updated information November 2023

Snapchat is an app that lets you send a photo, short video or message to your contacts. The ‘snap’ appears on screen for up to 10 seconds before disappearing, or there is an option to have no time limit. Find out more here.

 

Likee (formerly LIKE) is a popular global original video creation and sharing platform. A World Leading Special Effects Short Video Editing Tool

With thousands of stickers and Music Magic filters to help make ideas come to life. On Likee, everyone can create trending videos with a simple tap and become the video star of their social circles!

See what parents think of the app here.

Netaware have spoken to parents to find out what they think about YouTube. They've also asked children and young people what they think. Here's what they said......

YouTube Kids was built from the ground up to be a fun, family-friendly place for children and families. The YouTube Kids app includes both popular children's videos and diverse new content, delivered in a way that is easy to use, for children of any age.

Houseparty has become another way for young people to stay connected with their friends via video chat. As parents, it’s important to keep a few key aspects in mind if your child uses Houseparty.

Instagram is a picture and video sharing app. Users can post content and use hashtags to share experiences, thoughts or memories with an online community. You can follow your friends, family, celebrities and even companies on Instagram. Instagram allows live streaming.

Live.me is a social platform that allows users to connect with others and earn virtual goods which can be exchanged for prizes, rewards and cash.

Parents need to know that Kik is an app-based alternative to standard texting as well as a social networking app for smartphones.

Yubo is a chat and live streaming app, extremely popular among young people, with 3.6 million users in the UK alone. Find out more about the app here and how to keep your child safe.

The social news website requires users to be 13 or older but is Reddit safe? Learn what teens can find on Reddit and how you can help them stay safe from the site’s risks.