From the very beginning of creating Social Kids, we believed the digital age began from 6 years old onwards. We were wrong.
Going to a restaurant or walking through a mall, younger children have phones in their hands.
Measuring online maturity in kids involves assessing how well a child understands, manages, and navigates the digital world. Are they doing so safely, responsibly, and independently? Is the online maturity level they are at appropriate, according to their age and developmental stage? We encourage you to delay giving your child their smartphone for as long as possible.
A quick self-assessment for you to decide their online maturity:
Digital Safety Awareness
● Does your child know how to protect personal information online?
● Can they recognise and avoid suspicious links, messages, or strangers?
● Are they able to identify inappropriate content and vocalise that they did not like it?
Ask yourself:
Is my child left alone to navigate the screen?
Do they stop to ask before going to the next link?
Are you comfortable that the YouTube Kids video they are watching is age-appropriate?
Self-Regulation & Screen Time
● Do they understand and respect set time limits for online activity?
● Are they able to pause or stop gaming or social media use, without emotional distress?
● Can they balance online time with offline responsibilities (e.g., homework, chores, family time)?
Ask yourself?
Is screen time a constant battle and negotiation?
Is stopping screen time causing you anxiety for the fight you know you are about to have?
Are they able to complete their responsibilities before any screen time?
Remember: Screen time should be a reward, not a routine!
Digital Etiquette & Behaviour
● Can you see that they treat others respectfully online (e.g., no cyberbullying, trolling)?
● Do you believe that they understand the consequences of sharing or posting content?
● Is your child able to communicate appropriately in chats or when sharing comments?
Ask yourself?
Are they able to articulate their feelings or contain their anger?
Have you discussed what the consequences are of sharing images and content online?
Is your child sharing their digital life with you, double-checking and sharing what is happening in this space?
Media Literacy
● Are they able to critically assess content for bias, advertising, and identify fake news?
● Is your child able to identify the difference between real or AI-generated content and images?
● Is there an understanding of what sponsored content is and that online influencers often have other motives for their messages?
Ask yourself?
Can they distinguish between the 3 types of content?
Not many people can identify the differences, but are they aware that not everything they see online is true?
Have you discussed what influencers are and how businesses advertise online?
Privacy & Security
● Does your child understand what a strong password is and how to complete two-factor authentication?
● Is your child aware of privacy settings, and can they adjust privacy settings on apps and platforms?
● Can they explain why sharing personal photos or location may be risky?
Ask yourself?
Do you know what their passwords are, and have you told them why it is important?
Have you set the privacy settings for your child before?
Has the discussion around the risks of photo sharing and location been had?
Autonomy & Decision-Making
● Can you trust that your child can independently choose safe, age-appropriate platforms or games?
● Has your child asked for help with a message they have received or seen before?
● Do you believe your child can resist peer pressure or trending challenges online?
Ask yourself?
Do you check the age restrictions and games they play?
Do you play these with them?
Does your child ask your advice?
Can you offer a safe and mentoring space to advise?
Has your child been influenced easily in the past?
Are they naïve and gullible?
If you can’t answer all of these, then think twice before handing over a phone to the World Wide Web, unsupervised and without proper training and education.