SAFER INTERNET DAY
Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online.
- Things change so fast online, it’s hard to keep up with what my child is doing
- Things change so fast online, it’s hard to keep up with what my child is doing
- My child is asking for a new device and I’m not sure they’re ready for one
- I’m not sure if the content my child is watching is a good influence on them, what can I do?
- What does an influencer do and how can they affect children’s behaviour?
- My child is keen to share content and make a change online. How can I help them achieve this safely?
- How to make a report online
- Find out more about specific issues
- My child keeps asking to play a game, or download an app that I don’t know about, what can I do?
What does an influencer do and how can they affect children’s behaviour?
Influencers are people who use their internet presence, celebrity status, or relationship with their audience to affect the behaviour of their followers. Influencers can range in popularity, with some having 1,000 followers right up to those with millions of fans.
Influencers use their platforms in a variety of ways, including encouraging people to:
- buy specific brands, products, or services, that the influencer is advertising
- spend money on other things, for example wanting to replicate the activities or lifestyle that the influencer enjoys
- change people’s ideas and opinions about topics, to match the influencer’s own values
Influencers often have a large following of people who pay close attention to their views. The content they share can affect a young person’s mood and mental health in both positive and negative ways.
Many influencers use their platforms for worthy causes, for example:
- to raise awareness about issues that are hard to talk about
- to fundraise for charity
- to celebrate difference
- to promote social change
However, if you think that the content your child is seeing is affecting them in a negative way, it’s important that you talk to your child about it and seek the appropriate help if necessary.
Want to know what an influencer is? Read more about it here.