Make your child’s first phone experience safe with these 5 tips

This is a post with parenting tips by Katherine.

Mobile device security is more important now than ever. Aside from the fact that children today have access to more information, the risks in cyberspace continue to grow, exposing kids to potential threats. 

The internet changed the way we communicate when it first became openly available in 1991, and the inclusion of mobile technology resulted in our daily lives being ‘tech-ruled’. Inadvertently,  there are endless consequences of using digital technology for education, business, and every other aspect of our everyday lives. 

Over time, exponential progress has been made to improve the internet and mobile technologies’ connectivity. Because it is now so simple to connect to the digital world, the new generation uses more data than ever before. 

As a result, we live in a highly mobile culture in which over 67% of the population actively uses mobile devices. Today, children of all ages have access to more gadgets, ranging from smartphones and tablets to laptops and other devices. 

So the question is, what safety precautions should we put in place when our children acquire their first phone? Continue reading to find out: 

Kids-Safe Internet And Mobile Use

Internet safety involves being aware of the dangers associated with Internet activity and adopting various efficient countermeasures against cyber attacks.

Because of the rising number of mobile phone users, Internet security now encompasses both desktop and mobile devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and the like.

Cybersecurity, also known as online security, Internet protection, or e-safety, seeks to safeguard users against threats such as malware assaults, virus infections, phishing attacks, data breaches, identity theft, and so on.

The threats also involve exposure to adult content and harmful websites or applications for kids. 

Why Is Safety Crucial In The Internet And Mobile Device Use?

Interestingly, some parents would go to tremendous efforts to physically protect their children from threats while remaining indifferent about supervising their children’s Internet activities. 

We educate our children not to talk to strangers, but some of us allow them to browse the internet—a massive world of strangers—without adult supervision.

Some parents believe that a new mobile device cannot harm their child because it is only a gadget. That is no longer the case since the mobile device you give your kids serves as a window into their life. 

As a parent who has recently purchased a new mobile phone for their kid or is considering giving one to their child, we have created a list of 5 essential safety measures to guide your child in avoiding the risks. 

We’ve turned our best tips into quick-read books, and we’re publishing new ones every week. See the full collection here: amazon.com/author/chachingqueen.

Don’t talk to strangers

It’s old advice, but it’s reasonable: your child should only accept calls or reply to messages from people they know and should only contact people they know in person. Safety-conscious adults use online resources like Nuwber and PhoneHistory to verify the identity of someone they meet online.

Teach your children to do the same to protect them from strangers with malicious intentions. 

Kids and young teenagers, in particular, should take precautions to protect themselves by being wary about who they communicate with on their phones. 

Know what cyberbullying looks like.

Sadly, cyberbullying is still a significant issue. Your children should understand what cyberbullying is and the repercussions for both the offender and the victim. Educate your children not to engage in bullying on their phones.

Make sure they understand that they should come straight to you if they see cyberbullying, whether they are the victim or someone else is. 

Don’t share private information.

It’s incredible how quickly and easily content and information can be exchanged and distributed via mobile phones.

To keep your child from becoming an accidental data breach victim, tell them not to communicate personal information through phone and not to publish it on social media. In addition, your children should not give out their mobile phone numbers to anyone they do not know well.

Finally, your child should understand that they should not say or share anything inappropriate on their phone, particularly anything nasty or sexually motivated. 

Don’t “check in.”

Geolocation is a function provided by social networking sites such as Facebook that allows users to “check in” to their current physical location and submit this information to their profile.

Since posting your location online makes you easier to find and follow, this function carries some danger, particularly for younger users who may be more targeted. If your child has an Internet-enabled phone, tell them not to use geolocation. 

Practice Internet safety.

If your child has an Internet-capable phone, you should also analyze their degree of access. While giving your child a phone with an Internet connection might be beneficial and practical, it can also increase access to harmful or improper websites and content.

Educate your children about appropriate Internet usage and how to be safe online. You might even want to consider putting a filter or limit on their activities on the internet.

Bonus Tips 

Would you mind keeping it safe?

Not only should your child know how to keep themselves safe, but they should also know how to keep their smartphone safe. After all, if their phones are destroyed or stolen, they can’t access them to stay secure.

Give your child a protective cover for their phone to avoid damage, and tell them how to use their cellphone gently and carefully. 

Follow the rules

Ensure your ground rules regarding mobile phone usage are clearly stated to your child; this way, they’ll know exactly what they’re expected to do to be safe and can be held responsible if they don’t.

Consider setting sanctions for breaking the rules, such as taking away your child’s phone for several days.

Conclusion

These tips can help protect your child from the dangers and issues that cell phone ownership can bring. However, to secure their safety to the best of their ability, educate your child on avoiding risky scenarios.

Remember that these are only safety tips; you should also consider educating your children about other elements, such as etiquette and setting limitations on their mobile phone usage.

This is usually due to the child’s age and character. These ideas will undoubtedly prepare your child to be a safe and knowledgeable cell phone user.