For parents who didn't grow up with the internet, this era of Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram is new terrain when it comes to parenting rules.

Simply denying them social media access only works for so long, as eventually they will be able to access it at school or through friends.

Social Media Expert Jo Philips from Jo(e) Social Media Lacombe says social media is the main way for kids to communicate these days, and parents need to set some guidelines to make sure they are doing so safely.

“There are good reasons for using social media. If it’s to communicate with their friends, then set up some parameters there and let them do that. But if it’s because they are lonely, if you specifically have a kid who is depressed, or has relationship problems at school, or you are going through a divorce or anything like that, then you really need to know that world. Why? Because these are the kids that are easily identified by predators.”  

Some parents may think the best solution to social media issues is to completely ban their kids from using them all together.

Unfortunately, that can only make the situation worse and potentially leave your child open to online threats, according to Joe Whitbread, also with Jo(e) Social Media Lacombe.

He also says like most things, kids learn their behaviour by watching.

“The other responsibility that’s really important for parents to understand is that they are being watched. Their social media behaviour, their Facebook comments, the way they are posting about their kids online and have been for their entire lives, is being watched by the kids.”

Phillips says 8 years old is the average age kids' start wanting to create their own accounts, with Instagram and YouTube being two of the most popular.

So what is their best advice? Educate yourself as parents on the latest social media trends, talk with your child about why they want to use them, and set limits accordingly.

Another good solution is to have your kids explain the app to you, that way you can better understand their reasoning for wanting to use it, or be able to create a teaching moment if the child is using the app incorrectly without being aware.