7 Ways to Keep Your Teens Safe Online

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When our kids turn teenagers, it is a constant worry what they are doing online and whether or not they can make the right call. If you would like to make sure that your teen is safe, you will have to ensure that you are giving them space to grow but also check their online activity. There are new threats for young people online appearing every day, and it is your responsibility as an adult to teach your kids how to prevent falling for fraud, scams, and other tricks. Below you will find seven ways to protect your teens.

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1. Tell Them About Location

With the growth of SnapChat, it is important that you make your kids understand the danger of meeting strangers. You will have to tell them about why they should not share their location with others, no matter how much they think they know them. You might want to set up a fake account as well, so you can show them how easy it is to look like someone else on the internet. It is important that you check that their location is turned off all the time, so they don't get into dangerous situations.

2. Make Them Watch Documentaries

It is also a good idea if you show your teen what can go wrong when they talk to people and trust them, You can find some good documentaries on the topic on various charity and community organization websites, While internet safety education is a part of most schools' curriculum, you will need to fight the enormous peer pressure your teenagers are under. Be sure to sit down to watch some online safety documentaries and take the time to discuss the topic with them.

3. Monitor their Social Media

While teens will tell you that they know everything better, you have experience on your side. If you would like to keep them safe, you will have to take steps to monitor their social media. You can set up a software that automatically blocks access to adult content and violence, or simply check their phone randomly once a week. You might not want to be friends with your teens on social media, but make sure that you have access to their accounts all the time.

4. Limit Their Internet Use

You might think that spending all day and night on social media is just a thing of teenagers, and there is nothing wrong with it, as everyone does it. However, you will have to limit their internet access, or they will spend all night chatting to their friends and strangers, too. While they are in school or college, their priority should be their homework and getting enough sleep. This is the reason why you might want to control when and how they get online.

5. Teach Them How to Check Facts

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You want your teens to get streetwise and understand the dangers, so why not apply the same principle to using the internet? Most kids think that whatever vloggers and websites state is true, and end up disappointed when they find out that they are being manipulated. You can help your kids avoid tipsters while betting / do not use tipsters while betting and always check the credibility of the source and the reputation of the person who is providing the information online.

6. Get Them to Set Strong Passwords

When your teen gets their first bank account and card, you will have limited control over what they spend their money on and how they manage their finances. However, you can educate them about staying safe and protecting their identity. You can teach your teens essential budgeting skills and help them set strong passwords so they can stay safe and avoid falling for fraud online.

7. Teen Monitoring Apps

It might also be a good decision to get a monitoring app that will help you keep an eye on your teen's online behaviour. If they get into a group that is violent or manipulative, you will be able to step in as soon as possible. At the same time, you can monitor their location through a mobile app and check their iCloud or Google Drive storage to spot inappropriate messages or images.

It is challenging to set boundaries for teenagers, but not impossible. Make sure that you keep an eye on your child's online accounts and teach them essential skills to help them deal with abuse, bullying, manipulation, and peer pressure. Give them space and trust, but always be vigilant.