3 Essential Tech Safety Tips for Parents and Their Kids
Parenting in the age of technology presents challenges Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have to deal with. Today’s children are ‘connected’ to the world – and if they aren’t their toys are.
Common sense practices can help keep kids safe most of the time. These days just about everyone uses computers either at work, at home, or both. There are anti-malware software and firewalls.
Everyone should know about password security and phishing scams. The bank will never ask for one’s password in emails or messages. If all else fails, one may just turn the computer off.
Most people are used to viewing the internet as a portal, the access to which can be restricted. However, there are threats parents may not be aware of. Beyond the potential for exposure to ‘adult’ imagery or cyber-bullying, there are concerns ranging from child-identity theft to abduction.
The following practices will help parents defend their families from technology threats in the modern age:
Keep your information safe. This goes beyond using secure passwords and backing-up files. Someone who wants to hurt one’s family doesn’t care about tax returns. If 10 children are asked what they want to be when they grow up, chances are that a few are going to say, “A YouTuber!” When people live-stream, or give out their location in real-time status updates, they’re advertising their location to anyone who cares to know. Not every criminal is trying to abduct one’s children; some just want to know when parents won’t be home. Parents should make sure that the kids are only live-streaming when there are adults present, and refrain from posting status updates that let the world know that nobody else is home.
Be an expert consumer. If there’s one thing most terrifying, it’s hearing parents say things like “My 10-year-old knows more about these gadgets than I do.” Devices are getting smarter; many toys have built-in connectivity to WiFi, Bluetooth, or radio frequency. Authorities suggest that parents visit the website for every ‘smart’ toy or device their child has. They must understand that devices with cameras and/or microphones featuring any wireless connectivity can be hacked. They shall conduct internet searches on each device to ensure there aren’t known security issues.
Know the apps that the kids access. Parents don’t have to invade their children’s privacy in order to help keep them safe online. They may just sit down with their children periodically, and take a look at every single app on their devices. They may ask their kids how they use each app, and research the ones you aren’t familiar with. They may test each app by downloading it on their own device and signing up for an account. Apps that don’t require a phone number can be signed up for anonymously. Roblox, Yellow, and Periscope, are just a few apps that pedophiles have accessed to harm children. Other concerns include apps that don’t function the way one would expect. For example, an app called “Calculator” is a hidden-photo app on iOS.
Long past are the days when parents’ only concerns simply involved what the kids might be exposed to on the internet. Of course, parents are still worried that their children are going to see things online that the young ones aren’t mature enough to understand. Parents should also be worried that someone who wishes their family harm might know where their kids are at any given time.
Parents need to be educated in order to be prepared. They should talk to their kids about information security and use the best practices to keep the family safe.