The children in this generation are well advanced and know much more about smart devices and computers than most parents. However, kids are not aware of the darker side of the internet. Let’s take a look and see if parents should consider monitoring their children’s devices.
There is no harm in monitoring your child’s device. By doing so, you can protect them from online threats such as cyberbullying, cybercriminals, predators, and inappropriate content. You can use online parental control apps for real-time device monitoring.
When using an app to monitor your child’s device, you get notified about all the explicit content they may see online. The app will scan all photos, videos, emails, text, and other mobile functions.
For instance, if your child gets an email that has words such as “drugs” or “sex,” you will be notified without your child knowing. You can check what websites are being viewed and what messages they are receiving.
Children tend to do the same as adults searching for information online. However, not all searches are appropriate for children. An infinite amount of content and information about all topics make the search engine vulnerable to kids.
It can be a good idea to monitor their online searches to avoid inappropriate content and block any information that is not age approved. You can control the exposure of information to the kids by turning on Google SafeSearch on your child’s device.
Many kids love playing online games, especially when the content tends to be more interactive and graphic. It is safe when the children play with family members and friends. However, it can be a dangerous place when they are playing with strangers. It doesn’t hurt to be a bit cautious and keep an eye on what games they are playing and the interactions they are having to keep them safe from predators.
Controlling some gaming features, such as live audio chat with strangers or in-app purchases, is a great place to start. It can restrict your kid’s interaction with strangers and reduce the risk of leaking banking details.
Even if your child is in school, you want to be assured they are safe and in the right place. It is impossible to be with them all the time, so having a parental control app installed on your kid’s phone will check their real-time location with the help of GPS technology. Also, in an emergency, you can find your child immediately.
Though it is a great feature, it does require a GPS network which may not work in some areas. Thus, it is still a good idea to teach them essential safety measures such as – not talking to strangers or leaving the school premises until someone picks them up.
Cybercrime is a multi-billion industry, and cybercriminals keep looking for that one small mistake to steal your information to use in their favor. Using a monitoring device, you can monitor if your child is interacting with a cybercriminal or has accidentally given private information to an online stranger. It is vital to practice all safety measures regarding cybersecurity and always stay one step ahead.
Talk to your children and discuss the consequences of cybercriminal acts and how they can stay safe from them. Teach them not to share bank details or use credit cards anywhere online, especially without your permission or approval.
Excess screen time can be addictive and harm children’s eyes and mental development. It can benefit your child to limit their screen time to avoid future addiction problems. A screen monitoring app can be used to help.
Using the help of online parental control apps or monitoring devices can help you protect your children when they are online. By controlling the screen time on your child’s phone, they will be unable to access their phones without your approval once the limit is exhausted.
Kids may tend to delete files to create more space in their devices. Thus, it is a good idea to back up all files in the parental control app or device so you do not lose vital files or information.
Suppose you think your child may be exposed to some explicit content inappropriate for their age or mental development. There is no harm in monitoring all their devices to keep them safe from online threats. You can contact your nearest local tech support if you need guidance to operate an online parental control app.
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