When my eldest daughter, 10 y.o., ask for an Instagram account a year ago I knew they had a silly age limit of 13. I did what I think all the parents to “all my friends” did and helped her create an account where she lied a bit about her age. Because I can also see the risks with being 10 and active on social media, I also helped her set it up in private mode and became a follower to be able to follow and monitor her activity.
It has worked out very well and her Instagram, everyone she is following and her own posts, has become a very important part of her life.
Today, she (and probably all other kids) got a message from Instagram saying that to keep her account she need her to scan or snap a photo of a government issued ID card showing her age. I am not at home when writing this but she is devastated and I can so understand why.
Instagram is where she has told the world about celebrities she has met by posting a selfie. Instagram is where she posted the video she produced on musical.ly to say goodbye to her dog who was taken away from her much too early. That, and someone comes telling her that it will all be erased.
Howabout having a parent vouch for her and give consent?
