Today, the internet has become an essential tool for the development of children. From helping them with their homework to making new friends, it can support your kids with their learning as well as social development. It can have a distinct impact on not only their reading, problem-solving and other cognitive skills but also on learning how to interact and engage with others.
But the digital environment comes with its dangers and threats, much similar to your physical environment. Therefore, protecting your kids and ensuring their safety comes as a natural concern for any parent. And this article will provide you with an essential guide to keep your kids safe online with 3 trusted tools.
Safe search
If you are concerned about your kids' online safety, then this would be one of the first tools you could turn to. When kids are browsing the internet, safe search tools provide an easy method to filter any inappropriate or explicit content.
Most search engines such as Google offer this feature, which you can access under their settings. Certain search engines also allow additional features to keep your kids safe online. Google, for instance, allows you to set up email accounts for your kids and link them with Google's Family Link for added supervision of kids under 13.
Its Safe Search for Kids is another useful tool, which is a specially designed search engine for younger children. It automatically screens and filters text, image and video material from search results and shows child-appropriate content. It also provides various educational materials to help children learn how to protect themselves online. The topics they cover range from handling cyberbullying to developing strong passwords and safety measures to follow when sharing content online.
Even social media platforms offer safe search tools. YouTube, for example, can filter inappropriate videos and allows you to see which videos were viewed by your kids.
Background screening sites
People search sites like Nuwber are an essential tool to keep at hand when you are concerned about protecting your kids.
The internet has become a breeding ground for online predators, scams and cyberbullying and keeping your kids safe from them is not an easy task. This is exactly why knowing who they are interacting with online is important for you to guard them against any potential threats.
So, if you come across any suspicious individuals, a people search site will help you to run a background search with their name. These sites use a vast amount of data sources to compile comprehensive profiles, which can get you a range of information from their address and contact number to their age, marital status, and employment.
People search sites can also provide you with social profiles and even police records and criminal records including any misdemeanors and warrants issued. And if you only have a phone number or an email address at hand, these websites will also allow you to perform reverse lookups.
Most people search sites provide basic information for free, while more in-depth information can be accessed with a payment. They offer a fast, convenient, and reliable method to screen anyone anonymously, making them a trusted tool among parents.
Parental control apps
There are several good parental control apps in the market to choose from such as Norton Family Premier and Kaspersky Safe Kids.
Most of them come as both desktop versions and apps so that they can be used on multiple devices such as computers, phones, and iPads. And they offer some fantastic features to help you ensure the safety of your kids online.
These include tracking your kids' online activities such as online searches performed, key phrases and search terms used, and websites visited. These apps will allow you to block inappropriate websites, check how often your kids access social media sites and their social activities such as posts, and any new friends they have added.
And you can lock devices using parenting control apps in case you are worried that kids are misusing them. They could also allow you to schedule time slots for internet use and set time restrictions so that you don't need to keep track of how and when kids access the internet.
You can see which apps they have downloaded and can even check on the battery levels of the devices they are using so that you can alert them to re-charge if they are outside. The tracking feature will enable you to see where your kids are in real-time for added safety. And their daily reports can provide you with lots of more insights into your kids' online activities so that you can take necessary measures to protect them.
The best parental control apps will come at a cost, but the features they provide to keep an eye on your kids make them worth every cent.
Based on your children's age group, the methods you use to control their online activities will inevitably need to change. So, select what is best for your requirement from these 3 trusted tools so that you can gain effective results. And while you take every step possible to create a safe online experience for your kids, also ensure that you teach them the basics of protecting themselves. Remember that you cannot be there for them 24/7, and therefore, it's important that they understand the potential risks and dangers their online behavior can create. It will also enable them to appreciate and share your concerns about online safety. In addition, set some ground rules so that it's easier for you to keep track of their online activities and to ensure that they understand the importance of using the internet in moderation.
Technology can be a great asset for the development of young children, although it may have also given rise to unscrupulous and unethical activities by those with malicious intent. This places your loved ones in potential danger if left unguarded. However, technology has also provided some invaluable tools for you to strengthen the security and safety of your children. So, ensure that you take the necessary steps proactively to make use of these fantastic resources to protect your kids.
