One of the big parts of parenting is teaching our kids how to behave in various situations, and that also includes the digital realm. Whether they're using a laptop for schoolwork, a Chromebook for in-class assignments, or using their first smartphone, it's important that our kids know how to stay safe online. Part of this is using inbuilt parental controls to limit exposure to the more salacious parts of the internet, but it's also about talking to our kids about ground rules, how to spot scams and other issues, and most importantly, that they can always come to us if they feel unsafe wherever they are.
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7 Teach good habits
The best security begins with healthy habits
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If you spent any time watching 80s cartoons, you know that knowing is half the battle. And when the battle is about the importance of cybersecurity, simply putting parental controls and other restrictions on online activities isn't going to work. Your kids will find ways around these safeguards, as they were raised in a high-technology environment and often have a better grasp on technology than you do. That's why it's essential to teach and model good online habits from the get-go so that your kids learn how to navigate the digital realm safely.
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It'd be unrealistic to expect your kids to follow the rules all the time, just as it is in in-person interactions. But every misclick, infraction, or wayward glance is a teachable moment for how to behave appropriately instead of dishing out punishment. Studies show that allowing your kids to take ownership and learn from issues leads to better outcomes, and we all want the best for our kids.
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6 Use parental controls
It's all too easy to stumble onto things accidentally
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The internet is a vast place filled with wonder, but it also contains horrors and dangers for those ill-equipped to navigate it safely. To limit the number of things your kids are exposed to online, one of the easiest ways is to use some kind of parental controls app, whether that's built-in to the operating system of their devices, a standalone app, or something that runs on your home network to filter out whatever you don't want them to see or use.
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These apps can control how many hours of screen time your kids get per day, what websites or online games they can use, and monitor and record what they do online. However, they can also be a double-edged sword, as restricting their online activities too far can lead to resentment and a rift between you. It's important that if you are using parental controls, you keep open communication and ensure your kid knows that it's about ensuring the quality of the entertainment and educational resources that they're accessing and not about spying on their usage.
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5 Use SafeSearch
Remove the temptation to click
While parental controls and healthy habits are powerful tools for online safety, they cannot protect against everything. But that's where the search engine that your kids use comes in. Most have a setting to safely search by either filtering out things like graphic violence, porn, or other explicit content or by showing it but blurred out so you know it exists, but you also know you probably shouldn't be looking. Google's implementation is called SafeSearch, and it's set to filter by default for any account they think is under 18. The only person who can unlock that setting is the parents, assuming they're using a properly set-up child account for their kids. This can also be set at the operating system level, if Windows is set up to know that it's a minor using it.
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4 Agree to ground rules
Things like screen time, allowed sites or social media
Communication is a much stronger deterrent to online threats and will serve you and your kids well past the age when they're living with you. While your set of ground rules will be unique to your family and the maturity level of your kids, there are some universal guidelines that can be implemented. The bullet points below were picked from the well-designed online safety resources of the NYC Public Schools system, so go check those out for further information.
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Limit sharing personal information: Anything shared online, whether it's names, faces, or addresses, could be a potential threat. Even photos taken by smartphones can be an issue, as the file contains the GPS coordinates. For safety, you can remove this before posting, or you might be able to stop the smartphone from embedding the location in the first place. Be careful of strangers: It's healthy to talk to people outside your normal social group, but make sure your kids know that they can come to you immediately if they are asked to do something unusual. Online scams: The internet is full of scams, from fake antivirus apps to phishing emails, links and other types of content. It's good to educate your kids on how to recognize legitimate links and those from scammers, and it doesn't hurt to take a refresher course yourself. Bullying: Just like in person, bullying is a big deal online. Show your kids how to use things like the block button and let them know that it's better to block than to try and reason with online bullies or trolls. Fake content: Digital literacy is an important skill these days, and one that everyone could benefit from. Talk to your kids about fake content and the difference between that and facts, and how tools can be used to fake all kinds of content with the use of AI. Secure your webcam: It's a sad fact that every computer with a webcam is a potential threat, so talk to your kids about using physical privacy covers and other important tips.
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It's also wise to talk about things like payment scams, phone and SMS scams, and other constant threats of modern internet use. When you should discuss these things depends on the devices your kids use, but it's never too early to teach them at least some important ground rules for their online use.
3 Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Passwords alone aren't enough anymore
Passwords are still the most widespread way of securing online accounts, but they're not enough, not when hacks and credential-stuffing attacks are on the rise. If the online accounts your kids are using have the ability to enable two-factor authentication, you should use it. Whether it's simple SMS 2FA codes or a YubiKey or similar physical 2FA device, you should use them on your own accounts and those used by your kids. Hackers are only going to get more sophisticated as time goes on, and relying on online services to keep your accounts safe isn't enough. With 2FA enabled, you have another layer of security even if cybercriminals get your login details, keeping you and your family safer.
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2 Use a password manager
It's never too early to get into this habit
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Do you know every single one of your online accounts and their login details? It's impressive if you do, as I certainly don't recall many logins I've created over the decades. That's not a good look for online security, but it's almost too late for anyone who's been on the internet for that long. However, the next generation has a chance, thanks to the proliferation of password managers. These keep login details encrypted behind a master password, and they can be used by the entire family to share essential passwords, like for Netflix.
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Whether using the relatively simple password manager on their Android or iPhone or any of the free or paid options available, using a password manager to generate unique, long passwords for every service your kids sign up for is essential for their online security. At least until passkeys get wider adoption and the ability to transfer them between password managers so you're not locked to any one service. Then, they can generate those instead and never have to worry about passwords again.
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1 Be their social friend
Being connected to them on social sites helps
One of the old online security tips was to keep the family computer in a shared space so that your kids would think twice about doing objectionable things with the risk of discovery. That's not really a good idea, as it models a lack of trust in your kids'' ability to judge appropriateness. It's also unworkable in the modern age, as smartphones and other easily movable devices are the most popular methods of accessing the internet. But in this social media-obsessed era, being your kid's friend on the social sites they frequent is a good idea.
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It's no different from paying attention to the real-world interactions between your kids and their friends, just in the digital realm, and it helps you get a sense of what's going on. Just don't let an active interest in your kids life turn into overbearing control, or a need to see what's going on in their messages. If you've been teaching them healthy habits, you have to trust them to turn those teachings into action.
The most important thing to help keep your children safe online is communication
Whether you opt for family-friendly security settings or teaching healthy online habits, the most important element in keeping your kids safe online is open communication. If they have an environment that allows for questions without judgment, they're more likely to listen when you put limits on what they can do online. This doesn't end with the online realm either, as healthy communication will keep them safer as they navigate school, friendships, and more.
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