Facebook has become a new way of life for youngsters. It started as a college platform where teachers used to post assignments for students. But, now it has become a universal part of our culture and society. It has become the most convenient way to connect with family and friends.
However, Facebook also poses a massive risk, especially for teenagers and pre-teenagers. At their age, they are brimming with curiosity. They are obviously impulsive and lack good decision-making skills as adults. You cannot expect them to behave like adults and thus as parents, it’s your responsibility to guide them through their teenage years.
Facebook is an extensive social media framework consisting of various apps known as Facebook apps. Facebook Apps is not just a social networking platform; it assimilates Facebook’s News Feed, Notifications, Games, and various other features to grab the interest of the users.
Reasons for Blocking the Facebook App
Exposure to the Facebook app is unnecessary and risky for your child. Knowing about the various dangers of these apps, you will surely install the Facebook blocker app on your child’s mobile.
Public profile
Facebook by default creates a public profile. Anything that is posted online, whether it’s the profile picture or any message is accessible to the entire mass, and it stays in cyberspace forever. Images can be photoshopped and reused, and it is very deadly because any image with scanty clothes can be used for child pornography.
The craze for likes
With the ardent wish to get more likes, kids at times post pictures and comments which is unethical. It is very hard to control the temptation of popularity, and at a tender age, it is easy to be swayed off.
Security
According to Facebook, signing up before 13 is formidable, and creating an account with false information is against their rule. But, do they have a check? What is the governance that they follow to ensure that the profile data is true and just? Nothing! So, just imagine the amount of danger your child is exposing himself to, by accessing this portal. He is reachable to the huge mass of people whose true identity is hidden. Moreover, 13 years is still a very nascent age and kids at this age are not always in a condition to decipher between the good and the bad.
Status quo
For kids, a huge friend list acts as a badge of popularity! It gives them an edge over the others. Due to this, they tend to accept random people without familiarity as friends. Would you want your young child to chat with unknown people and with people older than them? You think more than twice when you have to send them out on with older kids then how can you allow them to chat with ambiguous people?
Trespassers
Will you allow an unknown person to enter your house? Through Facebook, they enter into your child’s life. Every time your child posts “check-in” or about his current location, he makes himself vulnerable. People tend to chat like youngsters and after gaining the confidence of the kids, they invite them for a meeting. A lot of incidents have taken place all over the world because many such deadly criminals are hanging out on Facebook, awaiting prey.
Future implications
Knowing that teenagers spend a lot of their time on Facebook, many colleges and scholarship providers have started referring to it to check the profile of the applicant. As kids fail to understand the implications, you will have to make them think that their posts and comments are visible to everyone including the elders of the family, school authorities, and teachers.
How to Block The Facebook App via Facebook Settings?
After knowing the perils of Facebook, if you want to forbid your child from using the same, follow the simple steps on his mobile(iPhone with iOS 12 below):
Step 1. Go to the settings of your mobile.
Step 2. Click on General Settings.
Step 3. Scroll down to Restrictions.
Step 4. On clicking on “Restrictions”, you will be prompted to give a 4-digit passcode.
Step 5. If you are accessing this setting for the 1st time, create a passcode, or use the passcode created earlier. Then scroll down to “Installing Apps” and slide it off.
Follow this way to block Facebook if you are using iPhone with iOS 12 or above:
Step 1. Go to the settings of your mobile
Step 2. Click on Settings
Step 3. Scroll down to Screen Time, and turn it on.
Step 4. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, and follow the instructions to set a 4-digit passcode, or use the passcode you created earlier.
Step 5. Locate iTunes & App Store Purchases and click on it. Switch the status for Installing Apps to Don’t Allow. Then you are all set.
Once you do this, your kid will not be able to download Facebook on his mobile. In case it is already downloaded, uninstall it before following the above steps. This way he will not reinstall it again.
However, using the above simple steps will let you block the app on his mobile, but he will still be able to use it from the web browser. So, it’s best to install a Facebook blocker app in the system accessed by your child.
How to Block The Facebook App on Your Kid’s Phone Remotely
There are many Facebook blocker apps on the market. These apps, known as parental control apps, restrict your child from using social networking sites and help him to inculcate good mobile usage habits.
mSpy is one of the best parental control apps. You can easily block the Facebook app on your kid’s iPhone or Android, as well as Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LINE, and more apps. With installing mSpy, you can also track Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp messages without knowing. Now you will be able to know your kid’s mobile activities and keep him safe from predators.
A Reliable and Handy Parental Control App – mSpy
- Location Tracking & Geo-fencing
- App Blocker & Web Filtering
- Social Media Tracking
- Screen Time Control
- Smart Parental Control Setting
More features of mSpy:
- mSpy‘s monitoring feature monitors the number of time kids spend on Facebook. It gives a detailed report of the apps used by him and the duration spent on each app. You can block Facebook along with the other disturbing apps on his mobile, during school or homework times.
- It prepares a report based on the web browsing trend of the child. Thus, you will know the internet usage of your kid. If your child tries to access Facebook from the web browser, you will be notified about it and can block it. You can block other websites, based on the content of the webpage.
- To ensure the safety of your child when he is not at home, keep track of him using the location tracker. In case you miss checking the real-time location, you can refer to the location history and know all his whereabouts.
- Observe his screen time usage and if you feel the need to lock the screen, do it remotely. Kids at times get addicted to mobile and sneak them into their beds. Set a screen lock timer to ensure he doesn’t use it during bedtime or homework.
mSpy comes with customization options, so choose the settings as per the age of your child and requirement. The remote control feature will let you control his mobile habits even when you are not physically around him.
Forcefully restricting kids from using Facebook will not solve your problem. As parents, you need to talk to your child and explain to them the hazards of social networking. Today’s kids are reasonably tech-savvy and if they think that you are forcing them to use Facebook blockers or parental control apps on their mobile, they will try to continue with their activities from some other mobile or desktop. Therefore the best solution is communication.
They should know that you trust them; it’s just that you want to be cautious and protect your child from unforeseen dangers. Make them aware of the various incidents all over the world.
Your kid should feel confident under your monitoring. If you install parental control apps like mSpy, your kid will know that he is under protection and the chances of landing up in trouble are bleak. They can browse the internet with a tension-free mind and they will also stress-free.
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