Ok - so my 12 year old has instagram. However, I don't use it, so I'm having a tougher time following up on her.
Right before the break she had 2 girls "follow" her that she was questioning their motives. "Mom we aren't friends and they don't like me... why would they follow me?" type of discussion ensues. We went through the possibilities - just to get #s of followers / to see what she's "up to" / because they are jealous / because they are stalkers. It was a good conversation.
Over break (while at her Dad's - who is NOT tech savvy) she changed her instagram to "private". Since we check up on her, my husband noticed it fairly quickly and I texted her and just said 'Hey saw you swtiched instagram to private. That's cool. But if it's going to be private I need your user name and password. Otherwise, please switch back to public'.
She replied "oh, sorry. wanted to track and approve who 'follows' me" I can switch it back". which she did.
Does anyone know if there is any sort of "messaging" component to instagram? I can't seem to find one, and she says there is not....we did open an account, but it seems SOOOO simplistic, that I fear I am missing something huge.
Other than getting to approve "Followers" is there any BENEFIT to having a private account rather than public - other than obviously everyone can see her posts if they are public. But her user name is not her "real" name, it's a variation of her name... so if anyone "searched" for her they wouldn't be able to connect HER with her Instagram.
I guess I'd like to know all the ways that Instagram can be "misused" or what I should be looking for.... So far it seems like they are just snapping pictures with their phones (all has been VERY tame) and everyone is liking each other's pictures.
Thoughts?
thanks for the answers. I hadn't thought about what SHE could read based on who SHE follows!!!!!
My husband does have an account, but I was worried about functions that she could use that if she turned her account private I then WOULDN'T be able to monitor - like on facebook there is IM and regular messaging - as well as the ability to monitor who can see your posts. But it sounds like unless she downloads a 2nd app, she wouldn't be able to do that.
Thanks for the info!
If she has it private, why can't she just add you guys so you can see what she posts without having to make it all public?
My kids both have Instagram and we require them to have it set on private, I also set up an instagram so I can keep an eye on theirs, we also have them give us thier user names and passwords. You really should have her keep it private it's not safe for anyone to be able to "follow" her, like her pictures and comment, it is like any other social networking site, you can NEVER be too careful with your kids.
Basically it is a place to post your iPhone photos and your "followers" can comment. I think you are doing a good job of monitoring her online activity, so keep it up. And instagram can get nasty, someone can post a photo your daughter put on her Facebook and comment away. There is a whole "slam book" instragram thing going on at my dgtr's high school right now. I'm proud that she is who showed me what's going on, but disgusted by what some anonymous poster is putting out there.
I have an instragram, but I use it a lot like twitter and follow celebrities. It is fun to see their photos and comments!
I echo SassySarkie. Make her privatize her account, then instead of asking for her login info, make an account yourself. You don't have to upload any pictures or anything, but by having an account you can log in as yourself and "Follow" your daughter (once she allows you to) so you can see what she posts. It's much better than leaving it open to the world.
I'm not sure if there is but under the new privacy policy they can use your pics without permission for advertising, so be aware of that. I deleted mine for that very reason.
I opened an Instagram account so that I could follow my daughters. Actually, I've really been enjoying the pictures they've been posting and all the comments that follow. It's just another way for me to keep track of what they're up to online. And some of the stuff they post is downright hilarious!
there is no private messaging component with Instagram. There are additional apps like InstaDM that allow instagram users to talk privately. If you will allow her to have any social media account, it should be private to prevent strangers, unwanteds from following and communicating with her that way.
If you and her Dad each set up an instagram account, you can monitor what she posts, who follows her, who she follows and the comments that are made to her photos.
I will say that knowing who she follows is important to be aware of as a parent as well. These are the things that she will see on her feed when she goes to Instagram.
Also, if she filled out the info about you portion of Instagram then she can still be found via search.
I'm not familiar with Instagram but do superficially use Facebook. I looked up Instagram on the Internet (google it) and there are numerous articles about it including a couple about ways it's been abused.
I suggest that just as with Facebook one has to be careful because anyone can see what you've posted. I suggest that the girls with whom she's not friends could just be curious about what she is posting. Not liking her would be further incentive to look.
I would have her use private settings. As she has found, even if her user name is not her actual name, others can figure it out.
Google Instagram and learn what it's about. There are a whole page of sites.
