"WHY I KEEP MY KIDS OFF SOCIALS MEDIA"

Acutely aware that an online presence leaves an indelible imprint, with potentially long-lasting consequences, it's a decision Yasmina Floyer finds easy to defend

Age 11, I began walking to school on my own, during the era of the landline phone. This meant no internet, no mobiles, no ‘text me when you get there’. When my now-teen reached the age when she was ready to walk to school alone, my husband and I decided – like many other parents – that she should have a phone. This decision was prompted by one of the most primal of parental urges: to keep her safe. In allowing her to have a smart phone, however, we were opening up another can of worms: social media.

I had managed to avoid Instagram myself until lockdown, when I finally caved and took the advice of wise friends who extolled the virtues of a carefully curated feed. I love the connection and community, yet there is still much that I dislike about the online world. As a grown adult, I struggle at times with the effect it can have on my mental health. So, worried about the potential dangers my children could also be exposed to, I made the decision that, while they can and do have phones, they can’t be on social media.