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According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of teens go online daily, and 24 percent of those teens are online “almost constantly.” While the internet is a fun place for kids to watch YouTube videos, play video games and socialize with other kids, it also poses many risks including cyberbullying and over-sharing personal information.
As summer vacation approaches, now is the time to talk with your kids about potential online dangers, take advantage of resources about online safety and keep a close eye on their online activity.
Here are a few tips for parents to help keep their kids safe online this summer:
Start the conversation early.
It's never too soon to talk to your kids about the joys and perils of being online. Explain why it's important they never share their real name, where they live or what school they go to. Kids also need to understand the permanence of what they post online. Once a picture, blog post or comment is posted on the internet, it will likely live there forever.
Be involved.
Interacting on social media can be a safe and fun experience for kids, especially on social sites like Animal Jam, the No. 1 social network for kids, or Marimba Chat, a protected messaging chat app. Find sites that cater specifically to children under thirteen, and if you choose to let them be on Facebook or Instagram, be involved. Be their in-game friend and play the game with them at times so you can monitor their online activity. If the social sites allow direct messaging, have direct access to their account and check in often.
Keep the computer in a central location in your house.
This way, you can keep an eye on your child’s online footprint. Since mobile devices are becoming more commonplace, consider using a platform that allows you to monitor your kids’ social media interactions while still respecting their privacy, like Bark.
Check your child’s privacy settings.
Privacy settings on social networks are constantly changing, which is why it’s important to make sure that the correct privacy settings are in place. The first step is to ensure your child’s profile is secure, and the second step is to disable the app’s location services. Otherwise, apps like Instagram and Snapchat may reveal their location to strangers. It is vital to teach kids to use caution as they post photos online since these images can reveal information about where they live.
Continue to speak with your children about online safety.
Remember: kids are innately trusting of their family and peers. It’s important to teach them the significance of never sharing their online passwords, even with their closest friends. Repetition is the key to embedding online safety in children’s minds, so be sure to keep this conversation alive this summer.
If you’re looking for a safe place for your kids to interact online, check out Animal Jam, an online world that monitors social interactions by a team of moderators 24/7. Partnered with National Geographic, Animal Jam features classic playground role playing infused with the life sciences, encouraging kids to learn about the natural world around them.
