[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids\/","headline":"Keeping Your Child Safe on the Internet at Any Age","name":"Keeping Your Child Safe on the Internet at Any Age","description":"Every 40 seconds, a child es missing or is abducted in our country. Most cases involve a family member or friend, and are resolved within hours. But there are tips to help avoid becoming a statistic at all. Below are examples of how your child\u2019s privacy is exposed and how to protect them in almost any situation. Learn more in our blog!","datePublished":"2018-04-13","dateModified":"2021-11-26","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":1341,"keywords":["Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Children of all ages are now savvier with smart devices, video chat, and other apps. Protecting kids from child predators and human traffickers has become more challenging.School-Age ChildrenMost school-age children are already using the internet at school and for homework. They also go online to watch videos, play games, and connect with friends and family. Because school-age children are becoming independent online and may go online unsupervised, there are\u00a0more internet safety risks\u00a0for them than there are for younger children.Here are four main internet risks for school-age children:Content. Coming across things that they find upsetting, disgusting, or uncomfortable, such as sexual content,\u00a0pornography, images of cruelty to animals, and real or simulated violence.Contact.\u00a0Encountering people they don’t know or adults posing as children online.Conduct.\u00a0Acting in ways that might hurt others or being the victim of cyberbullying.Contracts. Accidentally\u00a0signing up for contracts with terms or conditions they aren’t aware of or don’t understand. For example, a child might click a button that allows a business to send them inappropriate marketing messages or collect their personal or family data. Or they might use a game, app, or device with weak internet security, which leaves them open to identity theft or fraud.Here are some practical safety precautions you can take to protect your child from inappropriate content:Create a family internet policyTalk to your child about internet safety and ask for suggestions. For example, you could:Set aside certain hours for screen-free time each day.Create safety rules, such as never giving out last names, addresses, or other personal information online.List the programs and apps that are OK for them to use.Put the computer in a central spot where you can observe online behavior.Require them to use only child-friendly search engines like\u00a0Kiddle\u00a0or\u00a0Kidtopia, content providers like ABC Kids, CBeebies, YouTube Kids, and KIDOZ, or messaging apps like Messenger Kids.Enlist the help of older siblings in using the internet safely and responsibly \u2014 for example, by watching only age-appropriate programs.Talk openly about internet use and safety. Let your child know it’s OK to tell you when they’ve come across inappropriate content or contacts that worry them.Avoid using surveillance apps that let you secretly track your child’s online activity. Using these apps sends the message that you don’t trust your child.If you do want to check your child’s internet use while they’re online or by reviewing their browser history, it’s a good idea to talk about it with your child.Do your own homeworkCheck out the games, websites, and apps your child is using to be sure they are age appropriate. You can do this by:Reading reviews on\u00a0Common Sense Media.Checking privacy settings and location services.Using parental controls and safe search settings on browsers, apps, search engines, and YouTube.Setting up profiles on TV streaming services for different household members so your child is less likely to come across inappropriate programs.Blocking in-app purchases and disabling one-click payment options on your devices.Preteens and TeensAt this age, kids are using the internet regularly and most have their own smart phones or access to one. Here are some tips for keeping older kids safe online:Manage devicesIf you think your child isn’t old enough to have a mobile phone or tablet, stay firm and explain the reasons why. If you do allow a device, set times or conditions when it can and cannot be used, such as no devices at the dinner table or after 9 p.m. Encourage tweens and teens to use their devices in common areas, like the living room or kitchen. And choose a spot in the house other than the child’s bedroom to recharge their device at night so it doesn’t interfere with sleep.Use parental controlsActivate parental controls on your home broadband and devices, including mobile phones and gaming consoles. Activate safety settings on\u00a0Google\u00a0and other search engines,\u00a0YouTube, and entertainment sites like\u00a0iTunes\u00a0and\u00a0Spotify. Check the age ratings of games, apps, films, and social networks to make sure they’re suitable for your child. For example, the minimum age is 13 for most social networking sites, including\u00a0TikTok,\u00a0Facebook, and\u00a0Instagram.Stay safe on the moveBe aware that safety features may not be active if your child is accessing the internet using public Wi-Fi. Some providers are part of family-friendly Wi-Fi networks with filters to block inappropriate content. Look for friendly Wi-Fi symbols like\u00a0RDI Friendly WiFi\u00a0when you’re out and about.Keep track of social mediaContinue the discussions about internet safety. Talk about the benefits and risks of social networking before they join any sites. If your child does have a social networking profile, have them set strict privacy settings and make sure they know how to block or ignore people. Ask them to allow you or someone you both trust to \u201cfriend” or \u201cfollow” them to ensure conversations and posts are appropriate. Encourage them to treat others with respect online \u2014 as they would in real life.Protect passwordsRemind your tweens and teens not to share passwords with anyone \u2014 even friends. Promote safety while respecting your kids’ privacy by asking them to seal their passwords in an envelope and promising to open it only in an emergency.Pause before postingRemind teens that posting personal information or inappropriate messages can put them at risk with both strangers and friends. Let them know that anything they upload, email, or message could become public, and anything they post could be online forever. Anything they wouldn’t want a stranger \u2014 or their future college admissions officer or boss\u2014 to see should be kept offline.Keep it cleanSexting \u2014 texting about sex or sharing explicit images online \u2014 can lead to embarrassing situations at best and online stalking or a predator’s \u201cgrooming” at worst.While it’s not illegal for consenting adults to exchange explicit language or photos, it is illegal to send that kind of content to or receive it from a person under the age of 18. In some states, this content is considered child pornography or sexual exploitation and possessing it may carry criminal charges.Human trafficking \u2014 currently a big problem in the U.S.\u2014 also often starts with sexting. This modern-day slavery forces women, men, and children into commercial sex acts using violence, threats, lies, and other forms of coercion. Teens who are seeking attention or having family or emotional problems may be particularly vulnerable to the lies and lures of traffickers.If your child receives sexual messages or images, the first thing they should do is tell you or another trusted adult. Together you can contact the police and\/or report it to\u00a0CyberTipline.com.Discourage social media influencingSocial media influencers are people who have built reputations for their knowledge or expertise on certain topics by making regular posts about it. Brands love social media influencers because they generate large followings of enthusiastic, engaged people who pay close attention to their views and can create trends by encouraging followers to buy products they promote.Teens who think they could be “discovered” on YouTube or TikTok as the next social media influencer need to understand that it’s never that simple. Most reputable agencies are not searching the internet for talent.Never meet online friends offline \u2014 EVERThe fact is, there’s no way to be sure that anyone your child meets online really is who they say they are. And if they meet in person, your child could be in real-world danger.The TakeawayWhile the internet is a rich educational and interactive resource for kids, it also can put your child’s privacy at risk. By setting some simple internet safety standards that can grow with your child, you can keep them safe on the internet at any age.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 13, 2018, and was last reviewed on November 19, 2021."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Keeping Your Child Safe on the Internet at Any Age","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/04\/safety-tips-for-kids\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]