Smartphones, tablets, and laptops are all convenient. They keep you connected to the world whether you're at home or on the go. But how do you prepare yourself and your family for the dangers that lurk in the shadows of the virtual world? Check out these tips to learn how to stay safe while browsing the internet and your favorite social media sites.
Double Check App Privacy Settings
You take additional steps to keep your mobile devices safe, like purchasing iPhone 8 cases by BodyGuardz, so why wouldn't you take extra steps to protect yourself and your family from online threats? Many people completely ignore privacy settings when they download popular apps, leaving their family's personal information exposed. Every time you download a new app, especially one for social media, you should check the privacy settings to make sure your info is only viewable by people you know.
Most apps have basic privacy settings already in place. But you should double check the settings to make sure things like photos and your location can't be seen by the general public.
Restrict Online Communication
Avoid communicating with people you don't know personally online. It's easy for anyone to create fake social media profiles, so unless you know someone personally, you can't be completely sure that the person you're talking to is who they say they are.
If you have children who use phone apps, be sure their apps only allow them to communicate with friends and family members you know personally. For example, Facebook Messenger is available in two different versions - they have the normal app and a messenger app for kids. When you download Facebook Messenger for Kids, you have full control over who can communicate with your children through the app.
Monitor Your Children's Online Activities Closely
As a parent, it's important to monitor your children's online activities closely. Not only do you want to monitor who they communicate with, but you should check out what they are actually doing while they are online as well. To do this, consider installing Familoop Safeguard on all of your children's devices - phones, laptops, and tablets. The app monitors all of your child's online activity, including their mobile app activity. Then, it analyzes the activity to provide you with actionable insights. This helps you create age-specific guidelines for your children to follow any time they are online.
Additionally, you should pay close attention to any app that deletes messages and other activities automatically. For example, Snapchat deletes messages after they are viewed, but kids love it because the app has fun photo filters for them to use. A good alternative is Facebook Messenger for Kids. This app also has fun filters for kids to use, but it doesn't automatically delete messages, making it easier for you to monitor your kid's activities.
Set Household Internet Rules
Create internet safety rules for everyone in your house to follow - even the adults. This way it's easier to teach your children about internet safety. Some options to consider include:
- Limiting the amount of time each family member spends online each day.
- Ensuring online communication is restricted solely to people you know and trust.
- Approving all new apps and programs before your family is allowed access to them.
- Set rules and limits for online gaming.
Encourage Family Members to Be Careful Exposing Personal Information Online
With the number of apps available and internet access practically everywhere, it's pretty much impossible to monitor every single online interaction. So it's important to discuss internet safety openly, as a family. Talk to your children about the dangers of disclosing personal information online. Also, explain to them that once something is posted online, it's out there - somewhere - forever, even if it's deleted at a later date.
The fact is, the more your family knows about internet safety and takes action, the safer you'll be. It's important to protect your personal information and be careful when communicating online with others. Keep your family aware of online dangers and talk about it frequently so that they know to what to do in potentially dangerous online situations.
Image: Pixabay
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