By Youth First, Inc. – July 14, 2020 –
Technology can be a great thing. It helps us communicate with loved ones who live far away. It helps parents have peace of mind when their child is going somewhere without them. It is a great resource to help educate our children.
There are many advantages to having technology, but there are also many concerns when it comes to safety.
Right now, during the pandemic, many children and teens have more time and more access to technology than ever. They have unlimited access to apps, web pages, and social media. The older the child is, the less likely it is they have restrictions on what they can do on their phones and computers. But it is important for parents to monitor their child’s usage, no matter the age of the child.
According to parentology.com there are 10 reasons parents should be monitoring their child’s phone or computers:
- Online harassment or bullying
- Distracted driving
- Addictions
- How they spend money
- Online predators
- Oversharing
- Sexting
- Inappropriate content
- Dangerous apps
- Your child’s safety
There are an increased number of children saying they are being bullied online. While it is important to make sure that your child is not the victim, it is equally important to make sure your child is not the one bullying or harassing others. Teens, especially, seem to have no fear of what they say online and can lack an understanding of the consequences their words can have.
Driving while using electronics is not a good idea for anyone. It’s especially important to counsel your teen on the dangers associated with distracted driving. There are apps that can monitor a teen driver’s speed to give parents a little peace of mind.
Addictions can come in many forms – drugs, alcohol, cell phone or game usage to name a few. It is important to set healthy limits when it comes to the amount of time children spend playing video games. Monitor how much money they are spending online and make sure they are not spending money on games without permission.
With apps such as Snapchat, Tik Tok, Whisper, After School, Discord, Ask.fm or other social media apps, it is easy for teens and children to come into contact with strangers. This could lead them into a dangerous situation if they befriend a child predator. It is important for our child’s safety for them to know that they should never friend someone they do not know personally. They should never give out personal information or send inappropriate content of themselves or others.
There are helpful ways to monitor your child’s phone:
- Have a conversation with your child and explain what your expectations are regarding the phone – what is okay and what is not.
- Explain the dangers of talking to strangers.
- Check devices daily to ensure kids are acting safely.
- Download parental control apps on your phone to help monitor usage and notify you when your child is on unsafe websites.
As parents it is our job to ensure that our children are being safe when they are using their phones or computers. While it is important to grant your child more freedom as they age, it is still important to track or check your child’s phone and electronics uses to ensure they are being safe in their online interactions with others. Remember, until children are 18, parents are responsible for anything they do on their phones or computers.
For more information, go to https://parentology.com/should-i-track-my-childs-phone/ or www.youthfirstinc.org.
Image by Mircea Iancu from Pixabay