Tips to Protect Your Kids on Social Media | Total Security

Kids today have more ways to connect than ever before, and knowing what exactly they are doing on the Internet can be a headache for their parents. While kids seem to be very comfortable with technology and the internet, sometimes we forget that their learning is not over and that they can be affected by the risks and pitfalls of being a constant connection, especially when it is about social networks.

Here are some helpful tips to help you and your kids enjoy social media safely.

Inform and Communicate

Inform yourself on social networks. Ask your kids on which site they want to create an account. If you do not yet have an account for this site, create one. Explore every nook and cranny of the site that your kids want to use, so you know exactly what they can and can't do.

Talk openly with your kids about how to avoid interactions with strangers, revealing too much information about themselves, and internet safety in general. Teach them some of the points in this article and possible danger signs.

Encourage them to seek your advice when they encounter questionable situations or content.

Teach your kids to take a step back from what they post. On the Internet, the deletion of a published item is never really final. It might not seem important at the moment but could damage their digital reputation as they grow up and enter college and then into the workforce. Pay attention to search results for your children's names on Google. Have you ever Google searched for your or your child's name? If not, you should think about it, to know that their personal information is there. Do this once in a while to keep abreast of new results that may appear over the years.

It's also important for your kids to know that social networking sites can share more personal information than they realize. A lot of social networking sites provide information such as the real names, ages of the children, the name of their school, and the city in which they live.

Safety First

Advise your kids to never approve friend requests or add people they don't know in real life. There is a form of harassment in cyberspace known as "catfishing". The user can set up a fake profile and pose as someone else (most likely another child) to try and make contact with your child. Educate yourself about catfishing and bullying in cyberspace, then teach your child the red flags to pay attention to. Make sure he is well aware that you should never meet in person someone he has met on the Internet.

Avoid quizzes, giveaways, and contests. Sometimes phishing scams can try to trick your children into sharing personal information about themselves or allow hackers to inject malware into your computer. Educate yourself on phishing scams, and if your kid really wants to enter a contest, first check that it's not a scam.

It has become very popular to add its live geolocation to social media statuses via the GPS of a mobile device. While indicating geolocation on a post or a photo can be fun for children, it can be problematic for parents who would prefer that the precise whereabouts of their children not be known to everyone. To avoid this problem, go to the settings menu of your child's device and turn off location services. You can do this for certain apps only, and allow maps and other really useful tools to access location data.

Another potential pitfall is the use of games and other third-party apps on social networking sites. These apps can share or post information by default without notifying you. Trusted apps will make it clear to you that they will never post on your behalf. For lesser-known or less respectable apps, consider whether your child should allow them to access their social media accounts.

Define your Own Rules For Using the Internet

The computer must be in a common room in your houses, such as the living room or the kitchen. Designate areas of your home where tablets and mobile phones can be used. You will then be able to closely monitor the sites your child visits, and they will not be tempted to engage in activities or visit sites that are not allowed if you keep a close eye.

Allow your child to access the Internet for a limited time each day (except for homework). Social networking sites can be addicting and you don't want your kids to spend all of their free time there.

If your child is a teenager and finds your full access to their account too invasive, ask them to add you as a friend so that they can monitor their activities through your own account.

Stick to sites appropriate for his age. Most social networking sites (like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) are only accessible from 13 years old. Some of these sites also have additional security settings for minors. For example, Facebook automatically enforces more stringent privacy settings than those intended for adults. So make sure that the date of birth entered by your child when registering is correct. Twitter allows a user to make their account private. The user must then approve all subscription requests. In addition to these security measures, you should always consult the privacy settings of your child's profile.

Parental Controls

An easy way to increase your security is to sign up for Protegent360 Total security. It tells you when your child opens an account on a social network from their PC, as well as the name and age they use on their profile. This powerful safety suite keeps you informed about what your child is doing on their Android mobile device, lets you choose which apps they can use, and even turn off access to Facebook and YouTube. This way, your child has the freedom to use the Internet safely, for their greatest benefit. As for parents, they can effectively monitor their child's Android device and know when to intervene.

The new generation of children cannot and should not stop using the Internet. Parents must therefore understand the risks and benefits of social media. Solid knowledge of cybersecurity and constant supervision will allow your child to better enjoy the Internet.