But with everything new and technological in our society, this guiding light has been used more and more heavily to guide us towards what seems to be their reality check of how events should cater to the not so much of a child anymore. Technology, despite all those good things about it being an educational tool, creative outlet and entertainment device for children does not help parents keep their kids safe online. This article details some of the most frightening risks we are passing to our children living in a technological age full of technology and shares some helpful advice for how you can keep your little ones safe while benefitting from the pleasure technology provides us today.
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Cutting down on screen time
And one of the big concerns parents have is how much time children are spending glued to screens. Sure, Ed Tech can be a double-edged sword: While it offers impressive possibilities to learn and teach, spending too much time in front of screens not only impacts the cognitive functions directly running counter to developing a healthy mind. You must assert something about when and for how long your child can use devices. Check out the screen time limit tool available in the settings of most devices.
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Protect your online privacy
Although both children and adults can be targeted by threats of this type, it is the child who is more vulnerable to online risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft or access to adult content. One of the first things you can do to keep your children safe online is to instruct them about the need for privacy.
In-app privacy settings, device settings, use of strong passwords and using two-factor authentication whenever possible to help contribute an additional layer of protection. Parents can also be part of the solution by explaining the importance of data security to (most) children who have been deemed responsible enough to safely utilise social media.
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Parental controls and monitoring
The advent of parental controls is a real boon for parents seeking to monitor and manipulate their children’s browsing habits. Nearly all smartphones and tablets come with native parental controls that allow you to block inappropriate content, prevent your children from downloading apps, and control audience access to features like in-app purchases.
These are the very tools that track which websites they visit, what apps they use or how much time they spend on social media. Monitoring these behaviours would enable parents to protect their kids more efficiently and set them free in the digital world while being safe, especially perhaps when travelling overseas keeping control will give you peace of mind.
Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay
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Solution for pop-up problems and scams online
Pop-up advertisements and the risk of falling victim to a fraud appeal against children on the internet. The latter can range from basic marketing ads to attempts to install malware or retrieve personal information.
Your children need to learn that they should not click on ads from unfamiliar sources. It could make a difference, in particular, if your child is an Android user, make sure they know how to stop pop up ads on android it is then way less likely that they’ll see inappropriate or even malicious content.
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Develop good digital habits
We also need to stop simply making the rules and teach kids more about being responsible with digital. It will be among the first of a new lane for kids to learn device responsibility – augmented reality. This includes taking breaks, staying in good posture with screens and when to detach.
Make it a point to tell your children that they should switch off the data connection and go out and do sports, hobbies or talk with other kids. It would be better if they played together. It is instructive to parents (and to your children) to model responsible use of technology in your home as well.
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Teach social media safety
On one hand, kids can use social media to communicate with all their friends very effectively, but on the other hand this is also a medium that predisposes them to cyberbullying, voyeurism and inappropriate content. More needs to be done by parents to educate their children about the risks related to social media.
This includes teaching them not to release personal details into the public domain, only accept friend requests from people they knew and informing them of dodgy or harmful behaviour. Alternatively, you can keep the reins tighter taking more of a stance to restrict social media access at all.
In conclusion, it is a multilayered strategy where the technology of today and the safety of yesterday can be bridged through prevention, communication in all forms and an unwavering commitment to boundaries. Given that, when parents have the right tools and mindsets available to them, they can keep their kids both safe and healthy with technology.
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