With technology developing and being more available every day, it's important to set rules for children to prevent them from excessively using their phones. While their digital devices might have several benefits, parents should stay alert on excessive use. The solution is simple; communicate and allow them to understand the dangers of using their phones excessively. The next step is to help them decrease their phone use and screen time. In this blog, we're going to cover the importance of limited screen time and give you some tips on reducing your child's phone use.
Result of Excessive Phone Use
Children who use their phones excessively can damage their development in many ways. First, by creating social media accounts on their phones, they send a lot of personal information into the world. Every single piece of data that we put online gets saved forever and leaves a digital footprint. This online footprint can persist until they turn older, want to apply for college or even when they want to get a job. Therefore, an Instagram account with insensitive content or a less thought-through tweet can ruin a lot of chances.
People can be harsh, as we've all probably encountered at least once in our lives. People online can be even worse. They can comment anonymously without leaving a trail and anyone knowing who they are. This makes it extra important to protect your child from cyberbullies, data thieves, and other malicious people. Enlighten your child on "stranger danger" and explain to them about the possible threats of online communication. Make sure only their friends follow them, and no strangers have access to their pictures or other data.
Pictures are just a fragment of our lives. Photos on social media are not only a fragment, but mostly an edited fragment. Celebrities edit out their perfectly normal skin and bodies to make it appear like they are some super skinny and unflawed person. This can cause teenagers to think they are not enough or become self-conscious about their looks. This can eventually cause decreased self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression if this feeling remains consistent.
Adding to the mental issues that social media brings along, children who spend a lot of time on their phones develop a sedentary lifestyle. This can result in less excitement for outdoor time and sports. In the long run, this type of lifestyle can result in physical illnesses and in the worst case, even obesity. Other health issues can include reduced attention span, which can present itself in a worse academic performance later on in their lives.
Tips to Decrease Children's Screen Time
Keeping children in check when it comes to their use of smartphones is an important aspect of responsible parenting in the digital age. One solution is to screen lock your phone when your child is watching a video on it, but often times children have their own devices that you can't just simply lock once they're watching something on it. Let's look at some strategies and tips for parents to help manage their children's phone usage effectively:
Set Clear Boundaries
Establish rules and guidelines for phone usage, including when and where it's acceptable to use phones. For example, you can set specific times when phone use is allowed or disallowed, such as during family meals or after a certain time in the evening.
Communicate Openly
Have a conversation with your children about the reasons behind your rules and restrictions. Encourage them to ask questions and express their concerns. This can help them understand the importance of responsible phone use.
Model Good Behavior
Children often learn by example, being a good role model for responsible phone usage can be very helpful. If you want your kids to use their phones less, demonstrate that behavior by reducing your own screen time.
Use Parental Control
There are various parental controls and features available that allow you to monitor and manage your child's phone usage. These tools can help you set screen time limits, block inappropriate content, and track their device activity. Parental control software can be used as third-party apps, in-app or built-in operating systems. By putting parental controls on Android, Windows, or iOS devices you can ensure your child's online safety.
Teach Responsible Online Behavior
Educate your children about online safety, cyberbullying, privacy, and the potential risks of the internet. Make sure they understand the importance of not sharing personal information online and being respectful to others in the digital world.
Encourage Offline Activities
Promote a balance between online and offline activities. Encourage your children to engage in physical activities, hobbies, and face-to-face social interactions to reduce their dependence on screens.
Reward Positive Behavior
Offer incentives or rewards for responsible phone usage, such as adhering to time limits or following the rules. This can motivate your children to use their phones responsibly.
Stay Engaged and Involved
Maintain an ongoing dialogue with your children about their online experiences and challenges they may encounter. Encourage them to come to you with any concerns or issues they encounter while using their phones.
Remember that the goal is not to completely restrict phone usage but to help children develop responsible habits and make safe and informed choices in their digital lives. Parenting in the digital age requires a balance between guidance, trust, and communication.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, digital devices are full of learning opportunities, but excessive use can be harmful for children. Some of these include mental and physical health issues, and privacy and online safety dangers. It is the parents’ role is to protect their children from the unnecessary damages that online platforms and excessive phone use cause. Parents and caregivers can help by providing a safe space for their children to talk about things they struggle with whether it be online or offline. Also, offering non-digital family activities can keep the focus away from their phones. Remember that completely removing a digital device does not solve the solution. This can take a turn and make your child sneakier. However, communicating and allowing them a certain screen time can help develop a stronger parent-child bond and make them understand why you're advising them not to overuse their phones. Ensure your children's online safety by decreasing their screen time with our tips.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).