What should be the right age for your children to use social media?

Being a parent in this digital era comes with its share of challenges. First, you have to be cautious about how your children expose themselves to social media. Since social media has both pros and cons, the access your children have to the world of social media plays a significant role in determining their behavior in the real world. Therefore, before you police how they interact with social media, you have to decide the correct age when you allow them to step into that world. Children have young impressionable minds, so you have to analyze that when is the suitable time when your child will be able mature enough to be allowed that exposure.In the US, the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA)- protects the private, identifying information about children under age 13. This has been followed by social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other major platforms. As per other experts, 13 is considered the appropriate age when you can introduce your child to social media platforms and their workings.Although, that is not where the responsibility ends. Once you introduce them to social media, you have to supervise them to ensure that social media doesn't affect them adversely. Along with a moderate level of supervision, you also must acquaint them with the bright side of the platform. If they have an idea about the positive side of the platforms from the initial days themselves, it will help them in the longer run; They will be able to develop social networking skills and some meaningful connections that can help them in the longer run.Age can be a mere number sometimes. Therefore you have to personally analyze if your child is mentally prepared to understand the functioning of the platform