Emma Sadlier is South Africa's leading expert on social media law. She founded the Digital Law Company in 2013 that specialises in educating and advising corporates, employees, schools, parents, teachers and universities on legal, disciplinary and reputational risk of social media.

On the 18th of October we attended a talk that Emma had on social media and the law hosted at Oakhill school Knysna. 

It was a very informative talk as she discussed a few of the shocking cases we have regarding posts on social media. She talked us through some practical examples and backed it up with the different laws, what to do and what to avoid.

She gave us essential insights on the legal risks, defamation, privacy and social media strategy. 

We are now even more aware of the impact a social media post can have. 

“ If you would not place the content in your feed on a physical billboard with your face, name and your company’s logo attached to it, then delete it or disassociate yourself from it. Immediately.”

Below are a few tips from the talk:

PARENTING THE SCREENAGER: TIPS FOR PARENTS 

Smartphone Contract for Teenagers

• ALL devices out of the bedroom at a fixed time every night    
• No social media until high school    
• Agree on a time budget with your children. Set time limits on their devices. 
• Learn more about the websites, games and apps that your children are using. Have a look at the ultimate parent guides released by:
  • Common Sense Media - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/parents-ultimate-guides 
  • Bark - https://www.bark.us/blog/streaming-sites-safety-kids/

• Turn off location services on your children’s devices – except tracking software (Free on most smartphones or download Life360 from the App Store)  
• Install parental control software – for high-risk children have a look at Bark (promo code EMMABARK), Qustodio or Our Pact – otherwise Google Family Link on Android or Screentime on Apple are free and comprehensive, although Screentime can be a bit “buggy”
• Set up some ground rules for the sharing of personal information. All social media accounts must be private.    
• Teach your children to presume everyone they meet online is dodgy until proven otherwise. 
• Do a reverse Google Image search (or use a website like Tin Eye) if you suspect that someone you meet online is not who they say they are. Catfishing is real!
• Teach your children the joy of blocking people and the power of a short, sharp NO! No need to give reasons or excuses. No means NO! 
• Work with your child in setting up their social media accounts. Make sure that they have activated all privacy settings. Have a look at the parent guides for tips on which settings to activate.
• If your child is being cyberbullied – teach them to 1) Block (don’t report, if you report the chat gets deleted) 2) Screenshot and 3) Tell an adult  
• Install filtering software on the WiFi at home. Turn off your home WiFi at night.   
• Consider your child’s privacy when posting photos of them. No naked, embarrassing, shaming content. If your children are old enough, ask them if they are happy with you posting pics of them.   
• Teach your children that if someone expresses suicidal thoughts to them – that is not a secret they have to keep. They must tell an adult.   
• Model good phone behavior. Check your own use and addiction!  
  • Device-free times and locations at home. 
  • Device-free meals.
  • Remember the 6 P’s – If you wouldn’t want the content to be seen by any of the 6P’s, don’t let it exist in digital format.
    • Police
    • Parents
    • Potential university/employer/scholarship provider/sponsor
    • Pedophile or Predator,
    • Principal 
    • Phisher

• The age of full criminal capacity is 14 but can be as young as 12. Crimes committed by teenagers on their phones include crimen injuria (infringement of dignity eg. cyberbullying, doxing, image-based violence, racism etc), hate speech, fraud, threats, incitement, sexting, sexual exploitation, grooming, exposure of pornography to a minor, hacking, password abuse, non-consensual distribution of private/sexual/images or films, extortion
• Civil capacity starts at 7- defamation, privacy, harassment, damages
• If you have young children and for toddler screentime recommendations, please see Jerrica Sannes website - www.raisewildflowers.com.  

• Join the Facebook age “Parenting in a tech world” for hive-mind help.
• Books :
  • Selfies, Sexts and Smartphones: A Teenager’s Online Survival Guide – on Takealot or Loot
  • Irresistible – Adam Alter 
  • So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson 

• Facebook
  • Parenting in a tech world 
  • The Village