5 Keys to Correct Communication to Protect Young People in the Digital World

Parents who secretly follow their children's accounts or interfere with their every post damage the bond of trust between them and push young people to open secret accounts. Bitdefender Turkey Distributor Laykon Bilişim Operations Director Alev Akkoyunlu warns parents and shares 5 critical ways to create a safe communication area in the digital world of young people.

With TikTok reaching billions of users worldwide, the safety of young people on the platform becomes the biggest focus of parents. Trends and viral challenges, as well as risks such as cyberbullying, lead parents to follow their children's accounts. However, these well-intentioned monitoring efforts are perceived by young people as surveillance pressure. Young people who feel that they are constantly being watched or judged tend to open second accounts, secret from their families, to express themselves. This makes it impossible for parents to protect their children from digital dangers. Stating that it is possible to protect young people from cyber threats while respecting their search for independence, Laykon Bilişim Operations Director Alev Akkoyunlu emphasizes the importance of communication and correct boundaries within the family.

"Our Aim is to Build a Safe Communication Environment Instead of Watching Every Step." Stating that adolescence is an extremely sensitive phase where young people draw their own boundaries, Laykon Bilisim Operations Director Alev Akkoyunlu said, "The excessive pressure applied by parents on TikTok or other social media platforms with the instinct to protect their children completely damages the bond of trust. Parental comments on the posts turn into an embarrassing situation for young people and push them to hide even more in the digital world. Our main goal is to protect our children, instead of monitoring every step they take." "The key is to build a safe communication environment that will enable them to come to us when they encounter cyber bullying, phishing traps and harmful content." he said.

Alev Akkoyunlu shares 5 critical precautions that parents can take while managing their children's TikTok use without damaging the trust: 

1. Speak openly about your reason for following your child. If you want to follow their TikTok account, explain your intentions transparently instead of keeping it secret from them. The revelation of secret surveillance shakes the foundations of trust. Make him feel that your goal is to understand the world he is interested in, rather than judging him. 

2. Avoid commenting and intervening on every post. A well-intentioned comment you write on your child's posts can turn into an embarrassing situation for him/her in his/her circle of friends. Respect his/her digital social space and boundaries by observing only from a distance.

3. Use the content you see as a natural conversation starter. Stay away from criticizing the trends your child follows or the viral videos he encounters, as if you were questioning him. Make these contents part of daily conversations that will improve his/her critical thinking skills on topics such as cyberbullying or body image.

4. Configure in-app security and privacy settings together. Examine the security tools that TikTok offers, such as Family Pairing, screen time management and restricted mode, with your child. Set common rules for keeping accounts private and limiting communication with strangers. 

5. Protect yourself in the background with a comprehensive digital security solution. It's impossible to monitor every second of your child's social media presence. Fully protect your devices without damaging the bond of trust by using powerful security software such as Bitdefender Total Security, which instantly detects and blocks malicious links, phishing traps and cyber attackers.