If your child is awake, chances are she’s online.
According to research, children are spending several hours a day using a smartphone, computer, or other electronic devices.
The risks associated with kids online include cyberbullying, accessing inappropriate chat rooms, sharing personal information with strangers, and the list goes on.
With students headed back to school soon, AT&T offers these tips to help you ensure your children use online technology and mobile devices safely and responsibly.
- Take advantage of parental controls. Ask your wireless and Internet service providers about parental controls available to you. For example, AT&T Smart Limits for wireless allows parents to block unwanted calls and data use; set text and purchase limits; limit phone use during certain times of day; check on daily phone activity; and get customized alerts and weekly reports. Parental controls for Internet service include the ability to block access to specific services, view your child’s activities online, and receive tamper controls alerts.
- Be aware of what your kids are doing online. Talk with your kids about cyberbullying and other online issues regularly.
- Know the sites your kids visit and their online activities. Ask where they’re going, what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with.
- Tell your kids that as a responsible parent, you may review their online communications if you think there is a reason for concern.
- Ask for their passwords, but tell them you’ll only use them in case of emergency
- Ask to “friend” or “follow” your kids on social media sites or ask another trusted adult to do so.
- Encourage your kids to tell you immediately if they, or someone they know, is being cyberbullied. Let them know you will not take away their device if they confide in you about a problem.
- Establish rules about appropriate use of computers, cell phones and other technology.
- Be clear about what sites they can visit and what they are permitted to do when they’re online. Show them how to be safe online.
- Help them be smart about what they post or say. Tell them not to share anything that could hurt or embarrass themselves or others.
- Encourage kids to think about who they want to see the information and pictures they post online. Think about how people who aren’t friends could use the information.
- Remind them to keep their passwords safe and not to share them with friends because sharing that information could compromise their control over their online identities and activities.
- Check privacy settings on social media. Make sure you set the privacy settings on whatever social media your child uses but emphasize that there is no privacy. The more private, the less likely inappropriate material will be received by your child, or sent to their circle of acquaintances. Make sure your child understands that everything sent over the Internet or a cellphone is public and can be shared with the entire world, so it is important that they use good judgment.
- Talk to your teen about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving. Stress to your teen that no text, glance, post, or email is worth a life. It can wait. Get your teen to take the It Can Wait pledge (www.itcanwait.com) to keep her eyes on the road, not on her phone. Also, take advantage of apps that help prevent smartphone distracted driving. For example, the free AT&T DriveMode app silences incoming text message alerts so you can keep her eyes on the road and stay focused while driving. The app sends an auto-reply letting the sender know you’re behind the wheel. And parents with young drivers can receive a text message if the app is turned off.
