How Can Parents Control Their Kids' Internet Activities?

Many kids begin using technology: Cell phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs while they are very young. While there are advantages to this, such as getting kids familiar with machines and devices that they will have to use as adults, allowing them to stay in touch with family and friends, and being able to use the Internet for educational purposes, there are also downsides. Many parents and child development experts agree that it is important for adults to take a proactive role in monitoring and controlling children's Internet activities.

Why Protect Your Kids Online?

Not everyone is online with good intentions, and this includes your children's classmates. Children and teens can become targets of these individuals. Here are some examples:

Predators

Sadly, there are predators online that seek out kids and young people to exploit and victimize. Parents need to be aware of this danger and take steps to both shield their children from predators while also preparing their kids for the possibility that they may be approached.

Financial and Identity Scammers

Scammers don't discriminate between targets on the basis of age. In fact, some financial scammers may prefer to try and get sensitive information from kids and teenagers who likely do not have any blemishes on their credit reports.

Bullies

School bullies may use the Internet, including chat apps and social media accounts, to intimidate and harass their targets. This type of Internet abuse can be particularly difficult for adults to detect because Parents and teachers assume that kids will be communicating with each other online. However, parents should be aware if their child is being bullied, or is bullying others, so that action can be taken.

Bad Influences

If your child is being encouraged to engage in negative or illegal behaviors, such as drug use or criminal activities by his or her peers, you need to know about it. Monitoring Internet activity, or limiting access to peers who you know are a bad influence, can help keep your child safe.

Kids Sharing Too Much Online

Sometimes the problem isn't other people, but it's the fact that your child is sharing too much private information online. Even innocent things like sharing pictures of his or her home or date of birth can be problematic if this information gets into the hands of the wrong people.

Too Much Screen Time

Another issue is kids spending too much time online and not getting appropriate exercise, face-to-face social interaction, or meeting other responsibilities, such as schoolwork or chores. Parents may have to take steps to limit the amount of screen time kids get each day.

Talk to Your Kids

The first step in protecting your children online is having a frank and honest conversation with them about your concerns. Explain the dangers of being online and that your controlling or monitoring your children's activities is part of your responsibilities as a parent. Tell your kids that they should come to you any time an online interaction (with friends, strangers, adults or peers) makes them uncomfortable.

Understand Technology

Fortunately, many devices have built-in technologies that can help you protect your kids online. These include V-chips that can help you regulate the kind of content your kids can stream or interact with, monitors that can let you know how much time your kids spend online, histories that can let you know the sites that your kids have visited, as well as software that controls access to sites, social media platforms, and chat programs.

The trick is learning how to use these technologies. Fortunately, device manufacturers, as well as Internet service providers and mobile phone companies, often provide detailed information about features that you can use to control and monitor your children's online activities.

Set Profiles for Each Device

One of the easiest things you can do to protect your kids is to set user profiles for every family member on every shared device in your household. The user profiles can then be used to limit your child's access to areas of the Internet that you are comfortable with him or her accessing.

By the way, this is not a once-and-done action. You should regularly update profiles to ensure that they are protecting your child in the way you want.

Use Anti-Virus Software

Kids can be careless about Internet security. This can leave devices and your Internet network vulnerable to hackers and predators who use viruses and malware to harm your devices, steal sensitive information and content and further harass or stalk you or your family members.

There are several well-known and affordable options on the market, including Norton AntiVirus and McAfee. Installing anti-virus and malware detection software on all household computers is an important part of developing an Internet safety plan. Discounted family plans are usually available.

Purchase a Third-Party Monitoring Service

There are several free and paid apps and services that can monitor your children's online activities and even limit the time that they are permitted to be online. Brands include Qustodio, KidLogger, Kaspersky Safe Kids and others.

These services vary in scope, but you should be able to use them to read your kid's communications, searches and sites visited. You can also see how much time he or she spends online.

Consider Alternatives to Standard Devices

Another way to protect your children from online dangers is to purchase alternatives to connected devices that are designed for adults. For example, there are cell phones designed specifically for children, and include features such as limited contacts who you must add or approve, as well as limitations on the kind of apps the phone can host. Another option is to purchase a standard cell phone, not a smartphone, for your children so that they can get in touch with you if necessary. The Firefly phone is a popular option for pre-adolescent children.

Some parents opt to forgo cell phones entirely and instead have their children wear or carry a GPS tracking device that can allow for two-way communication. The Jiobit is a popular option, as is the PocketFinder+. Some experts recommend the Apple Watch SE for older kids, as it has a parental control app built into the watch.

There are also kid's tablets available as well. Amazon has "Kids Edition" Fire tablets that come with pre-installed parental controls as well as plenty of free apps that are suitable for kids. LeapPad Academy by LeapFrog is another tablet specifically designed for kids.

Final Word

There is no one size fits all approach to Internet security for children and teenagers. Each family house to consider its size, its technology needs and the specific ages and personalities of its younger members. Clear communication and household rules about Acceptable online behavior and warning signs are also essential.

A comprehensive plan that includes age-appropriate devices, monitoring software, antivirus protection and strong relationships can help keep you and your family safe from many of the dangers that lurk online. Take time to research your options and strive to keep up-to-date regarding options and new behaviors or threats that might affect your children.

Companies named: Amazon, Apple, LeapFrog, PocketFinder+, Jiobit, Norton, McAfee