June has been designated as Internet Safety Month, designed not only to raise awareness about internet safety, but also to provide parents and guardians with resources to keep young people safe online. With school out for the summer, many children likely will be spending more time online, making this an important time to discuss concerns about online access on phones, gaming consoles and computers with them. It’s also an important time to verify safety measures are in place.
Here are several internet related topics that parents and guardians need to be aware of:
— Creating accounts on websites without permission: Social media sites are ripe with strangers with intentions that may be quite different from yours. Many sites are designed to collect and sell unauthorized user details and behaviors to advertisers seeking targeted marketing. When creating an account, some kids may falsely create a birthdate to meet the minimum age requirement. It’s important to know what your child is doing online and to keep track of the social media sites and accounts to which they have access.
— Contests and giveaways: Contests and giveaways often collect a hefty amount of personal information on their entry forms. Many are thinly disguised ways of collecting personal or financial information that could lead to identity theft. Ensure your child doesn’t have access to banking or credit card information, and supervise the filling out of any forms.
— Phishing: Adults are not the only ones who receive spam and junk mail. Children often get spam, and since they don’t have much online experience, they are more susceptible to clicking on links and answering questions they probably shouldn’t. While some emails may be legitimate, the last thing parents want or need is a $500 bill from a fraudulent website — or worse, giving up personal information that can be tracked back to your home and your child.
— Understand the details associated with apps: Certain apps might collect and share personal information about your child or target your child with ads. Even free apps may include paid features, and children may not understand that some apps or game features cost money since they were labeled free to download. They may click on these so-called free games and cost parents or guardians a hefty bill at the end of the month.
— File sharing sites: Many websites allow children to download free media. A child may not realize these sites often come with the risk of downloading a virus, allowing identity thieves to access the gaming device, personal computer or cellphone being used. From there, the thief might be able to track financial transactions, physical location or even tap into the household Wi-Fi without anyone knowing it.
Here are resources that offer ways to manage online privacy for the family:
— Children’s Advertising Review Unit: The organization’s self-regulatory program provides detailed guidance to children’s advertisers on how to deal sensitively and honestly with children’s issues. These guidelines go beyond the issues of truthfulness and accuracy to consider the uniquely impressionable and vulnerable child audience.
— Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act: The law protects the personal information of children under 13 on websites and online services — including apps. It requires those sites and services to notify parents and get their approval before they collect, use or disclose a child’s personal information. However, if your 9-year-old tells Instagram they are 13 (the age requirement to use the app), this law won’t protect them.
— Family Online Safety Institute: The institute brings an international perspective to our online lives’ potential risks, harms and rewards. The Good Digital Parenting web portal is an excellent resource for families looking to educate online safety measures in the internet age.
BBB offers the following tips to help your family stay safe while online:
— Read privacy policies together and understand privacy settings: Parents can have their children read the privacy policies and terms of use of any apps they want. While there might be a little grumbling that the policies are too long or that it takes too much time, remind them of the importance of knowing what they are signing up for and insist that they are read. Then, learn and understand the privacy settings on each app and game.
— Don’t share your location: Nearly every app automatically tracks a user’s location. From placing an online order for groceries or fast food to playing an online game, review the apps on all your devices to see which ones are tracking your location. Then, if it’s not needed, look in the settings to see how to disable this feature. Advise a friend or family member to avoid geo-tagging their posts with their location. Why? You don’t want to announce the fact your family is vacationing out of state while the house sits empty. A simple review of the geo-tagged post will reveal where you are.
— Use parental controls if necessary: Although the best way to keep a child’s online privacy safe is to teach them to manage it themselves, it doesn’t hurt to have their backs by using parental controls. Today Android, iOS and most web browsers offer built-in features that allow parents to monitor their children’s online activities, but third-party apps are also available. Research the option that works best. Follow through with the child to explain why you’re monitoring their activities.
— Share with care, and remember, personal information is like money: What is posted online can last a lifetime. Parents can teach children that any information they share online can easily be copied and is almost impossible to take back. Talk to them about who might see a post and how it might be perceived, and show them how anything they do online can positively or negatively affect other people. Sharing personal information can also give online thieves an idea of what login information or passwords might be used for banking or other online accounts.
BBB offers additional information on keeping children safe online, and you can also visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance for up-to-date information.
You can reach BBB serving Southeast Tennessee & Northwest Georgia’s team at 423-266-6144 or by email at tngabbb@chattanooga.bbb.org.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.
Staff photo / Michele Mason
