The Internet has become a lifeline for young people during the pandemic. Many have used technology to learn their lessons, stay connected with friends, and spend time on their favorite sites and apps. In this period, the most important point for parents was to understand where the dangers were and to try to minimize the risks their children were exposed to. Cyber security company ESET examined what should be considered in parental control software and shared its recommendations.
In the past, parents didn't have to worry too much about their children's digital activities. A central computer in the house was the only gateway to the Internet. It was easier to follow and control. Then came mobile devices. Now they face even greater challenges. Not only do children have more opportunities to surf the Internet away from supervision, but also there are more hidden dangers in the digital world. This makes parental control software an increasingly attractive and much-needed option for parents. While even operating system developers now offer some functionality in this area, the most complete feature sets are third-party solutions designed by security experts. The right tools should strike a balance between increasing your children's safety and giving them the freedom to explore, learn and socialize.
Why do you need a parental control software?
Kids are spending more time on their devices than ever before. Before the pandemic, screen time for US children was estimated to be around four hours a day. Due to the restrictions during the COVID period, this period has doubled. The most important point for parents is to understand where the dangers are and try to minimize the risks their children are exposed to. Parents have a lot to worry about in the virtual world. Some of these concerns are:
Inappropriate content This could be sexually explicit material, sexist or discriminatory content, offensive or violent images/videos, gambling sites or even abusive content. What you find inappropriate depends on the age and maturity of the child.
Cyberbullying Unfortunately, bullying is a fact of life for most children. But in the online world, this threat extends beyond close friends. An EU study states that half of all children have experienced some form of online bullying in their lifetime.
Exploitation. Children may seem tech savvy, but they also tend to trust people they meet online. Unfortunately, some adults are ready to take advantage of this situation. They often try to gain their victims' trust by pretending to be their peers on social media, messaging, gaming, and other apps.
Data leak We probably all post too much on the internet. However, our children have a much larger circle of digital friends than we do, which means they may be the ones who will misuse their information. Even something innocuous like a pet's name, home address, or time to go on vacation can be used in digital and real-world attacks.
Identity theft and phishing scams As soon as your kids open social media, messaging app and email accounts, they are bombarded with fake messages designed to trick them into providing sensitive personal and financial information or installing malware. Many are persuasive. Some may be prepared to entice with the promise of free gifts.
Excessive screen time This condition is associated with eye problems, depression, overeating and other physical problems in children. Perhaps most obvious, being glued to a screen means your kids are not interacting in the physical world, which can harm their emotional and social development.
Things to consider in parental control software
There are many solutions on the market that will help with some or all of the above challenges. It's worth investing in a brand that has proven credibility in this space and the broader cybersecurity space. As a good start, consider the following:
App controls let you block age-inappropriate apps or control which apps can be accessed for how long. Daily time limits are a good idea to minimize excessive screen time.
App and web usage reports can help you better understand where your child spends time online and identify sites or apps that may need to be blocked in the future. It should also flag newly installed apps.
Safe browsing will help your child surf the web while blocking access to pre-categorized age-inappropriate sites. It would be helpful here for your child to be able to request access to certain sites and you to consider this on a case-by-case basis.
Locator and area alerts show the location of your child's devices, helping to relieve you of your worries about where they are if they forget to text or call you. Another useful feature is the ability to create physical “zones” with notifications sent to your device when your child enters or leaves a zone.
An easy-to-use portal is the final piece of the puzzle, allowing you to easily install, manage and configure the product on an ongoing basis.
Parental control software is not a magic wand that will turn your child into a responsible internet user. Nothing can replace the value of honest and mutual communication with your children. Don't just tell them you installed the software, but also tell them why you installed it. Talk openly about the dangers you see and set some ground rules together. Make sure you internalize what you're saying. Better still, take a break from technology once in a while. There is also a wonderful offline world that your kids can explore.