This is a collaborative post: Do you know what your kid does online before, after, and in between online classes? COVID-19 has transformed school into an almost entirely digital experience for many kids. And with that come risks.
What Kids Are Doing Online (Apart from Learning)
According to the latest Children’s Internet Usage Study, children in grades 4-8 expose themselves to multiple online dangers.
Here are some findings that are food for thought:
- 40% of children chatted with a stranger they met online through social media or other channels
- 29% are using the internet in ways their parents won’t approve, including visiting sites featuring schoolwork cheats and adult videos
- 15% tried to meet a stranger they met online
- 53% revealed their phone number
When kids reveal personal information or try to meet strangers, they can put themselves and their entire family at risk.
Back in 2020, the FBI warned that hackers are targeting online classrooms, Zoom included. Add this to the list of potential issues, and worrying about your kid’s safety online is understandable.
Especially when you consider that, according to the same report cited above, 70% of children in these grades have a mobile phone, and 64% have a tablet. In other words, the internet for them is often only a device away. Visit this guide to learn more about the internet statistics 2022
So, what can you do about it? Without coming across as a strict, harsh, grouchy parent?
1. Encourage Them to Talk About Online Strangers
For older kids, the standard warning not to talk to strangers may not work. Especially if they have a strong sense of their digital independence. Instead, you may want to encourage communication on this topic.
Constantly ask your children about the people they meet online. Ask them where and how they met them and provide details about them.
By encouraging your kids to be open on this topic, you can help keep them safer.
2. Create an Internet Room for the Whole Family
Seeing what your kid is up to on their device or computer is easier than furtively checking on them. It will also make it harder for hackers or other individuals to harass them or lure them out.
Choose a common room and limit internet time to it. Use your device in this room to encourage them to do the same.
3. Secure Their Devices with a VPN
One of the best reasons to get a VPN this year is to have more control over internet access in your house. That comes on top of hiding your kids’ IP address across devices and encrypting their internet connection.
Sometimes even VPNs get hacked, but that only makes them stronger. If you’re wondering, for example, “Is NordVPN safe?” the answer is Yes. AES-256 encryption and non-logging of activities are just two security features that can bring you peace of mind.
At the end of the day, a VPN should be at the top of your cybersecurity checklist.
4. Know Your Children’s Accounts and Passwords
If your kids are small, you can create online accounts in their name with their consent. This is an elegant alternative to spying on their accounts, which could damage trust.
Stick to accounts that don’t require signups to be 18 years of age. When registering, provide one of your email addresses so you can reset the password if needed.
However, respect your kids’ digital independence and don’t let unfounded worries damage your relationship.
5. Be Their Friend on Social Media
Social media is where many of the online dangers of the internet are concentrated these days. Each platform has privacy controls you can negotiate with your kids.
If you feel your kids are old enough to have full control over their social accounts, friend/follow them. This can help you keep an eye on their general account activity and could deter offenders.
6. Use Security Controls Built into Kids’ Devices
Operating systems across mobile and desktop now have app restrictions, screentime lockups, and parental control settings. Applying these can become easier if you give your children a new device–ready tweaked!
Also, you could use your internet router to limit what websites can be accessed on your home Wi-Fi. These settings vary on the manufacturer of the router, so check the user manual.
Safety Without Arguments
Most of the methods above—including getting a VPN—can increase your kids’ online security without fuss. That’s important and something you want to consider.
Sometimes, being too strict can encourage the sort of behavior that strictness was meant to prevent in the first place.
Think of yourself as their cybersecurity friend and invite conversation on this topic. That can have positive results, and not only for their online security.