When Is A Child Old Enough To Have A Social Media Account?

     The discussion around what age children should be able to create a social media account is controversial. Social media is a prominent place for kids and adolescents to roam and explore, but it could lead to multiple threats and dangers. Technically, the minimum age required to open an Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, or Pinterest account is 13. For other sites like YouTube, the age requirement to have an account is much older than 13 years old. The Children's eSafety Commissioner, Alastair MacGibbon, said: "the technical age limit is arbitrary and it is a parent's responsibility to assess when their child has the social skills for social media, such as judging what to share and with whom."  So, it is up to the parent's to make ethical judgments about their child's readiness. Social media might not be appropriate for all 13-year-olds, but parents should be careful about letting their child open an account at a younger age than that. It is possibly dangerous, but not 100 percent dangerous.