Keep Kids Safe Online
Learn the technology.
As parents, your primary goal is to protect your children. and, in today’s digital world, that means understanding the technology they use. Kids are growing up in a connected world, often with access to the internet, apps, and social media from a young age. Without proper guidance, they can be exposed to online dangers like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy risks.
Learn the apps that they use.
Look them up on the app store. What is it? Why do they have it?
It’s crucial for you to stay informed about the technology your kids use. Many apps and platforms can easily deceive parents, with some vault apps even disguising themselves as harmless tools like calculators or camera apps. Without understanding the technology, you may not recognize the potential risks or hidden dangers lurking on your child’s device.
Know what your kids are doing.
Trust but verify! Randomly check your children’s devices. Know their passwords. If your child wants social media, and you have approved it, require that you know their passwords and that you are ‘connected’ and they are only to add people they know (i.e. family and actual friends). Communicate openly and often. Also remember that you can’t control everything! Sign a family safety contract and teach them what to do if they’re ever in an uncomfortable situation.
You can use the family safety contract here www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/online-safety-contract or create your own.
Preparing a device for your kids
- Setup Email address: You may not want to give your child email access, but an email account will be needed for steps below and it is recommended that you set up an account for them that is privacy based and that you have access to. recommended options are Proton.me or Tutanota.
- Setup a Password Manager: On-device password management is convenient, but usually doesn’t work well for accessing on other types of devices and for being accessed by yourself. Setting up a device agnostic password management application and sharing access with yourself is recommended. Recommended options are BitWarden, Dashlane, and 1Password.
- Set Up Family Management Tools: Begin by configuring parental control tools provided by major technology platforms. For Google devices, use Google Family Link; for Microsoft devices, use Microsoft Family Safety; and for Apple devices, use Apple Screen Time. These tools allow you to monitor and manage your child’s device usage, set screen time limits, and approve or block apps.
- Install Monitoring Apps: Enhance your oversight by installing additional monitoring applications. These apps can provide detailed reports on your child’s online activities, flag inappropriate content, and track location. recommended options include Bark, Qustodio, and Net Nanny.
- Set Up Filtering Services: Utilize filtering services to block inappropriate content and promote safe browsing. Many routers offer built-in parental controls (such as Circle with Disney) which allow content filtering at the network level. Furthermore, tools like NextDNS or OpenDNS Home can provide similar filtering features, both for your home network and individual devices, even when they are outside the home network.
- Restrict Administrative Access: Ensure your child does not have administrative access to their device. Create an administrative account for yourself and set up a separate, restricted child account for them. This limits their ability to install apps or change security settings. For guidance, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions: Google, Microsoft, Apple.
- Do Regular and Sporadic Checks: Do not rely solely on these tools to supervise your child’s online activities. Regularly and sporadically check their devices to ensure compliance with your rules. This includes reviewing browsing history, installed apps, and social media interactions. Maintaining an open dialogue with your child about their online experiences is crucial to building trust and encouraging responsible behavior.
Other Resources
Kid Hope
Kids Hope USA mentoring program, students develop transformative relationships with an additional caring and consistent adult, empowering them to thrive.
Take it Down
If you need help with taking down inappropriate media of your kids.
Assistance with preventing child online exploitation
