From Safety.com. Today’s kids are digital natives, and so are many parents. But tech savvy doesn’t always translate into increased safety online. We asked cybersecurity experts for the best and most practical internet safety tips for kids, teens and parents.
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The FBI is encouraging parents to regularly talk about Internet safety with kids – including red flags and what they should use the Internet for. It’s also best to keep Internet devices in open, common areas of your home to quickly make sure your child is practicing safety measures.
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Authorities also recommend that parents regularly check their children’s Internet history, apps and social media activity to make sure nothing goes unnoticed. This includes checking direct messages, files and history of websites visited. You can also regularly check and ensure safety using parental controls and privacy settings on their devices and social media.
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Most importantly, make sure children are aware of online dangers including sexual exploitation – sharing photos and fulfilling inappropriate requests from anyone – especially strangers. Teach them to never share personal information online and alert an adult if anyone is pressuring them to do so. If you notice this, file a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and contact local authorities immediately.
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The Coronavirus has altered kids’ day-to-day with limited interactions and more screen time. But, the Internet shouldn’t be a scary space for kids. Instead, introduce them to new ways to enjoy the digital space. Here are a few ways to help kids run wild with their imagination online safely – and with adult supervision.
- Exercise and interactive games
- FaceTiming or video chatting with trusted loved ones
- Movies from their favorite streaming platforms including Disney+ and Netflix for Kids
- Cooking demos
Written by your home security expert Emily Ferron. Emily is an experienced writer passionate about covering topics at the intersection of tech, health, safety and humanity.
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From Safety.com. Today’s kids are digital natives, and so are many parents. But tech savvy doesn’t always translate into increased safety online. We asked cybersecurity experts for the best and most practical internet safety tips for kids, teens and parents.
About the Author:
I am a cybersecurity and IT instructor, cybersecurity analyst, pen-tester, trainer, and speaker. I am an owner of the WyzCo Group Inc. In addition to consulting on security products and services, I also conduct security audits, compliance audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. I also teach Cybersecurity Awareness Training classes. I work as an information technology and cybersecurity instructor for several training and certification organizations. I have worked in corporate, military, government, and workforce development training environments I am a frequent speaker at professional conferences such as the Minnesota Bloggers Conference, Secure360 Security Conference in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, the (ISC)2 World Congress 2016, and the ISSA International Conference 2017, and many local community organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, SCORE, and several school districts. I have been blogging on cybersecurity since 2006 at http://wyzguyscybersecurity.com