If you’ve decided to trust your child with a cell phone, make sure their device is as secure as possible by adjusting the settings. These include location, screen time, passcodes and more.
Review the following 10 tips to find out how you can help keep your kids safe on their mobile device.
- Set a password: It’s basic, but it helps prevent bullying, sexting as well as keeping their personal information private. Encourage your kids to create unique passwords featuring numbers and symbols, and to change them often. A password reminder or manager might be helpful too.
- Set up emergency contacts: There are many emergency situations that can arise. Kids needing a ride, being locked out of the house. Make sure there are several contacts programmed in their phone just in case.
- Set up remote locate/lock/wipe features: Enabling these features could help you locate your kids lost phones, as well as protect private information from being accessed.
- Install security software: Security software is instrumental in blocking malware, phishing attacks featuring dangerous links, and unwanted calls and texts.
- Turn off geo-tagging: Although useful for mapping and security services, you should talk to your kids about when and where they should share their location. Emphasize keeping the location feature on their phone turned off unless directed by you or absolutely necessary.
- Teach your child not to reply to unknown senders or callers: Scams, phishing, and spam texts happen to everyone, regardless of age. They can lead to increased charges as well as giving hackers access to their accounts.
- Set rules for new apps and games: The world is full of apps these days, a lot of which are not relevant or appropriate for kids. Make sure you review their apps or put restrictions around what they can download.
- Know your schools’ mobile phone and mobile device policy: It’s important to stay aware of the school’s policy so you and your kids know when and where they can use it.
- Set up a nightly charging station in the kitchen or den: This is particularly important in improving your child’s sleep and school performance by avoiding that late night gaming or texting distraction.
- Review your cell phone provider contract together: Set limits and consequences, and get your child involved.
The internet has become an integral part of life. It is hard to conduct daily activities without it. It’s important your kids understand the risks and benefits and that both of you take the right precautions and safety measures to keep them safe.
