If you're like most parents, you're probably monitoring your child's social media usage to some extent. But did you know that your child's usernames (and account bios) may be putting them at risk?

Here are 4 ways that your child's social media usernames and account bios may be putting them at risk:

1. They can reveal personal information

2. They can reveal your child's location

3. They can be used to hack into your child's account or steal their identity.

4. They can be used to bully or harass your child online.

Usernames and bios can reveal personal information

It's easy to forget that personal information like your child's name, birthday, or even their pet's name can be used against your child if it's easily accessible on social media.

Usernames and bios could reveal your child's location

If your child uses their school name, their city/town, their favorite place somewhere in their username or bio, predators can track them down fairly easily. Furthermore, if they post images with locations tagged, that makes is even easier for predators to find them in real life.

Usernames and bio could lead to predators or hackers either gaining control of your child's account or even stealing their identity

Children's photos and identity have never been more at risk than with their usage of social media. By thoughtlessly creating an easy-to-guess username, kids can open themselves up to identity theft and impersonation from those who seek to use their photos without their knowledge or consent. This can even include so-called 'deep fake' technology which can easily generate realistic images of a person that are not even real in the first place. You have to teach your kids about online safety when it comes to setting usernames and creating their bios online. Mistakes made as a kid when it comes to their personal identity online may lead to serious consequences later on in life.

Usernames and bios can help bullies find your child's account(s) and lead to cyberbullying or harassment

With today’s easy access to search engines and social media, it can be easy to find other children's accounts, particularly teenagers. Unfortunately, this also makes them easy targets for cyberbullying. Kids who have easy-to-find usernames can quickly become the target of malicious remarks from other kids on social media. Protecting your child from cyberbullying is important for their safety and mental health, so it's important to evaluate the potential risks associated with their username when creating or editing an account.

Final Thoughts

As parents we must be proactive and teach our children about digital safety so that they can better protect themselves when navigating the world of social media. The key here is to have regular, ongoing conversations about digital safety and make sure you have a family tech plan in place so your kids know your rules and boundaries.

If you don't have a Family Tech Plan, I can help! Click HERE for info to get started.