Day by day, the usage of social media among children is growing. In fact, teenagers spend almost nine hours daily using the internet. Social media use among teenagers and tweens has grown by 17% from 2019 till now. One such social media platform is Tumblr. It is popular among kids these days, as it offers the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and share anything. Children using Tumblr have both advantages and disadvantages. However, if parents monitor their children’s online activities, they can protect the kids from the bad things about Tumblr.
In this article, you will learn about the adverse effects of Tumblr on children and how to keep them safe. But before diving into that, let’s briefly overview what Tumblr is used for.
What Is Tumblr?
Tumblr is a platform where microblogging and social networking can be done effortlessly. It allows users to post images, videos, and other content to a short-form blog. Users can keep their blogs private or public, and follow other users’ blogs. The dashboard of this platform has the most features. Various multimedia content and articles can be published with a single click on Tumblr. Tumblr has been compared to other social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook.
What Is Tumblr Used For?
Tumblr is a social media platform that allows users to share text, images, videos, and audio files. It is also possible to follow other users and reblog their posts. Many people use Tumblr as a way to connect with others who share their interests. It is also a popular platform for artists and photographers to share their work. Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo in 2013.
Is Tumblr Safe For Children?
While Tumblr is not technically a social media site, it does allow for social interaction through likes, reblogs, and comments. Users can follow each other, and browse through tags to find the content they’re interested in. However, because Tumblr relies heavily on user-generated content, there is no way to guarantee that all posts will be appropriate for children. In addition, Tumblr does not have any age restrictions, so children may be able to access content that is not meant for them. Tumblr may not be the best platform for parents who are concerned about their children’s safety online.
Bad Things About Tumblr
While Tumblr can be a fun and creative way to express oneself, there are also some serious concerns that parents should be aware of –
1. Security Issue
In 2016, 65 million Tumblr users had their accounts hacked, and personal information was found on sale on the darknet. This led to concerns about the site’s safety, and many parents began to restrict their children’s access to it. In addition, the hack also exposed several sexually explicit images and videos that had been posted on Tumblr. As a result of these concerns, many parents now view Tumblr as an inappropriate site for children.
2. Privacy Issue
Is Tumblr safe from malware? The answer is a resounding “no”. The reason is Tumblr’s privacy settings. It is not particularly robust, which means that children’s posts can be easily viewed by anyone who knows their Tumblr URL. Tumblr has been known to host cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment. Therefore, you should closely monitor your children’s activity on Tumblr and make sure they understand how to use the site’s privacy settings.
3. Inappropriate Content
Tumblr does not have age-appropriate content filters in place, meaning that children may be exposed to mature or explicit content without their parents’ knowledge. In 2018, Apple removed Tumblr from its app store for keeping child abusing content. While Tumblr has now taken some steps to address these issues, it still remains a controversial social media platform.
How Can You Protect Your Child From Tumblr?
If your children use Tumblr regularly, as parents, you may often have a question in your mind – “Is Tumblr safe for my child?”. Instead of having doubts about it constantly, here are a few tips you can follow to protect your child from Tumblr’s harmful influence.
1. Show them to block inappropriate content
While Tumblr is generally a safe website, there is some inappropriate content you may not want your child to see. You can help protect your child by showing them how to block certain content from their Tumblr feed. You can also block specific users, blogs, and tags. Taking these precautions can help ensure that your child has a safe and positive experience on Tumblr.
2. Talk about privacy on social media
Talk to your kids about privacy and online safety. Explain to them the importance of keeping their personal information private, and teach them how to identify and report online predators. By having a heart-to-heart conversation with them about the importance of maintaining privacy on social media, you can help keep your children safe while they enjoy the benefits of social media.
3. Use the parental control app
You should monitor your children’s online activity through the parental control app and stay aware of the sites they visit. Using a parental control app, parents can receive alerts any time their child posts or views something inappropriate on Tumblr. Additionally, parental control apps can help parents to monitor their child’s screen time, ensuring that they are not spending too much time on their devices. Overall, parental control apps offer a valuable tool for parents who want to keep their children safe online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, Tumblr is not a bad website. Actually, this is one of the best websites out there for finding interesting blogs on numerous topics. The community is amazing and welcoming, and there’s always something new to discover.
Yes, a 14-year-old can use Tumblr. However, they should be aware of the site’s community guidelines and terms of service. It’s important to be respectful of others and to comply with the site’s community guidelines.
All kinds of people use Tumblr. Whether one is into fashion, food, photography, funny stuff, or just about anything else under the sun, there’s a Tumblr blog out there for everyone. And since it’s easy to set up a personal Tumblr blog and customize it, many people are joining the Tumblr community every day.
Final thoughts,
Overall, Tumblr is a website used for expressing oneself and sharing things with others. While it has some good aspects to it, there are also many bad things that come along with using the site. These bad things can include cyberbullying, pornography, and other inappropriate content. Therefore, it’s essential to be cautious of these dangers and take steps to protect your children from them if you allow them to use Tumblr.
