Approaching the topic of internet safety with your kids can feel like navigating a labyrinth, but it’s especially important as children and teens spend more time online than ever before. And more time online means more exposure to cyber threats for millions of children. By understanding what to look for and starting the conversation now, you can help teach your kids how to protect themselves and practice cyber safety in the future.
Types of scams kids and teens can experience online
Phishing & Smishing: These scams often come in the form of urgent calls, emails, texts or social media messages that could contain bad grammar, suspicious links or requests for passwords, personal information or credit card numbers.
Vishing: Voice phishing, also known as vishing, is where fraudsters use phone calls to trick individuals into revealing personal information.
Online predators: These individuals exploit the anonymity of the internet to engage with children and teens for malicious purposes through messages, online forums and other forms of digital communication.
Catfishing: Scammers create fake profiles to form deceptive relationships with teens, often to extract personal information or money.
Online gaming scams: Fraudsters may trick kids into sharing personal information or money in exchange for in-game items or upgrades.
Fake contests and giveaways: Scammers lure kids with promises of prizes or giveaways, only to steal their personal information or money.
Malware and spyware threats: Kids or teens could click on malicious links or download infected files, often through phishing-style messaging, that could lead to malware or spyware being installed on devices, compromising personal data.
Establish a family safe word to verify the identity of someone who reaches out with an unusual message, ensuring you can distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent communications.
Steps to talking to kids and teens about online safety
1. Maintain open communication and education
Creating a safe space for your children to ask questions without fear of judgment is crucial. Remind your kids that online safety can — and should — be a continuous conversation. As they get older, be prepared to have conversations about good digital citizenship and ethics. With the amount of photos and videos being shared on social media platforms, discuss the potential consequences of actions like posting illicit content, or images of others without permission. Explaining that actions online can have real-world social, financial or legal consequences can be a helpful way to emphasize the importance of considerate online activity.
2. Discuss online safety best practices
Educate your children on recognizing and reporting malicious activity. Start by helping them identify common signs of phishing scams, such as urgent messages that could contain bad grammar, suspicious links or requests for personal information. You can also discuss how to spot fake social media accounts by looking at what these accounts post, who they interact with and the nature of those interactions. Encourage them to block or report any suspicious or overly personal interactions. Arguably most importantly, you should also discuss why they shouldn’t share personal details online.
3. Implement time management and monitoring strategies
You can also take action as a parent to monitor your child’s safety. Determine which websites or apps your child likes to use and talk about appropriate ways to use them. Implementing a screen time limit or parental controls can help keep your child secure while still having the freedom to explore the online world. But be aware that even with controls, dangerous content or interactions can still find their way to your kids. Keep devices in common areas of your home to help you keep an extra eye on their internet activity.
4. Create strong passwords and safe words
Help your kids create strong, unique passwords to protect their online accounts with strategies like using a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Additionally, establish a family safe word that can be used to verify the identity of someone who reaches out with an unusual message, ensuring they can distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent communications.
Know your resources for online safety
It’s uncomfortable to think about your children being targeted online, but knowing the resources at your disposal can provide some comfort. While websites have their own reporting process, you can also report cybercrimes to these government agencies:
Preparation is key
By understanding how to talk about online safety the types of scams your kids may encounter, you can help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
