Keeping
a watchful eye on your kids requires an increasing level of tech savvy many
parents find intimidating. Not only are your kids vulnerable to bad actors
online, but your family’s personal information could be at risk, as well.
Learn
how to protect your children and family in this digital age with these tips:
Elementary-Age
Children
- Encourage open communication. Have conversations
about what your kids see and do online and talk with them about potential
dangers. Avoid lecturing in favor of an open exchange of information.
- Make their inherent interest
in privacy work in your favor. Kids in this age group, particularly
toward the middle school years, understand the concept of privacy and value
it immensely. Use that context to help them understand what goes online is
there to stay. Talk about what kinds of information should always be kept
private, including identifying details like addresses and social security
numbers.
- Stay on alert. Not all apps
are completely safe (even the ones you can access from trusted stores) and
not all filters are foolproof. Keep close tabs on what your kids are
downloading by reading comments and reviews, and regularly monitoring what
kind of content they see.
Middle
School and High School Kids
- Continue talking about
privacy.
You can never have too many conversations about privacy. What seems like
harmless sharing on social media can be quite revealing. For example, frequent
posts about visits to a favorite store or restaurant can allow a predator
to begin tracking behavior patterns that make your child a target. It’s
also important for kids to understand how their privacy settings work. For
example, settings that allow exposure to friends of friends make their
visibility to strangers much broader than they may realize.
- Help manage their online reputation.
Behaviors
that once resulted in a day or two of hallway chatter can now live forever.
Documenting mischief online is only fun until it spills over into real
life and everyone sees those mistakes in full color – including prospective
future employers.
- Be clear about your position
on bullying.
From the safe distance of a screen, it’s easier for kids (and adults) to
say things they’d never say in person. Teach your kids to handle problems
constructively offline and avoid engaging in attacks on others through
social media, email and other platforms.
College
Students
- Reinforce the risks. Once they’re
on their own, kids may feel more liberated to make their own choices online.
However, college students are easy prey for identity theft and worse.
Remind them what’s at stake if they fail to protect their identity and
private information, like where they live and what they do on a regular
basis.
- Teach smart practices. With all the
independence that comes with college life, this is an ideal time for your
student to take personal responsibility for his or her online security,
including learning about virus protection, updating software, avoiding scams
and backing up data.
If
you’re looking for more practical advice for everyday family matters, visit eLivingtoday.com.
Photo
courtesy of Getty Images
Courtesy Family Features
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