How to Protect Kids from Harmful Entertainment?
Data from the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) illustrates the potential digital dangers facing kids. Nearly 75% of children have encountered at least one type of cyber threat. Inappropriate advertisements, disturbing images, harmful content, and phishing attempts can reach children, sometimes bypassing even the most stringent parental controls. Until the child achieves independence and can make sound decisions on his own, the responsibility for harmful entertainment for kids falls on parents. Fortunately, it is now possible to protect children online and there are special tools and methods for this.
Table of Contents
1 Set Clear Boundaries
Creating clear guidelines for technology use both at home and outside is essential. Here are some tips to help maintain a balanced approach:
- Limit Device Use to Common Areas: Keep devices like computers and TVs out of bedrooms. Encourage their use only in shared spaces.
- Ban Phones During Meals: Make mealtime a phone-free zone to promote family interaction.
- Collect Phones Upon Entering: When your child has friends over, have them place their phones in a basket by the front door until they leave.
- Set Up a Charging Station: Designate a charging area in your bedroom and ensure all phones are placed there before bedtime.
2 Use a VPN
When a child connects to the Internet, even for the most harmless purpose, they can become a victim of hackers and intruders. When a VPN is active, all data is encrypted, it is impossible to determine the location, as well as to find out the real IP address for a targeted cyber attack. Technically advanced VPN providers also allow you to bypass regional restrictions. For example, you or your child can watch DAZN with VPN from any country in the world, and not just those permitted by the provider. Just choose time-tested providers and those who adhere to a no-logs policy, like VeePN.
3 Limit Screen Time
More than 80% of children are online each day, with 36% spending between 3-5 hours on their devices. In today’s digital era, where online learning is increasingly common, keeping kids away from screens is a significant challenge. However, the simplest way to protect children from online dangers is to limit their screen time. This is easier said than done. Reducing the number of hours kids spend on their devices can significantly lower their exposure to potential threats and inappropriate content.
4 Enable Parental Controls
While it might seem straightforward to safeguard against harmful online content, not every app, browser, or device makes parental control settings easy to find. Some internet portals offer detailed, granular options, while others provide more generalized settings. This variation can make it challenging to create a completely secure online environment for children, depending on their method of internet access and the content they encounter. Devices like iPhones, along with major internet platforms such as Google and YouTube, offer robust parental controls to filter mature content or regulate screen time remotely. Additionally, certain social media apps provide adjustable settings that allow parents to minimize the chances of strangers discovering their child’s account.
5 Look at the Content Rating You Allow to View
Wondering what a TV-14 rating actually signifies? TV ratings have evolved, and parents need to stay vigilant. When you see a TV-MA rating, rest assured it’s there for a valid reason, so it’s wise to find a more suitable option.
However, don’t be surprised if you encounter adult content on TV-PG rated programs. According to a recent PTC study, there are an average of 10.8 instances of such content per hour on PG-rated shows. To ensure nothing inappropriate sneaks through, consider using a filtering service as an additional safeguard.
6 Try to Communicate the Importance of Safety Measures
Children tend to shut down and tune out when they sense a lecture, especially if they perceive hypocrisy regarding screen time. Instead, seize natural moments to convey your values and demonstrate appropriate screen usage. Seek out activities that don’t involve screens to spend time together. Engage in outdoor adventures, read books aloud, or play family games. These activities will foster stronger connections and better protect your kids from harmful media content than any set of rules or parental controls.
7 Watch Together
Preparation is key. Investigate beforehand to understand the show’s premise and set your expectations before watching. When you watch content together, you can explain the meaning, guide them in the right direction, or tell them that it’s not okay to do something like that. You can think of it as a teaching lesson.
Conclusion
You can also use access restrictions and content filtering on streaming platforms. Almost all popular services have something similar, somewhere it is parental control, and somewhere access by PIN code. But at the same time, you should not do all the work on cyber protection of the child yourself, at least not all the time. When the child grows up, he should be ready for modern challenges, which means – you should give more freedom and guide, and not restrict.
