Internet access among kids and young people is significantly different between rich and poor countries with only 6% penetration in low-income nations compared to 87% in high-income ones. Nonetheless, when children and young individuals get their hands on technology including tablets and smartphones, it is critical that these devices are properly configured by parents or guardians to ensure their safety and wellbeing. In addition to protecting children from online predators, cyberbullying can also be prevented. Moreover, a safe setup protects their privacy and allows parents to limit screen time while promoting digital literacy.

Set Up Safe Tablets and Smartphones for Kids

Open Communication

Tech devices rank as one of the top five most popular purchases in the gift category according to Google stats. Hence, parents are likely to give their children tablets or smartphones as presents. Stats also indicate that nearly 10% of parents gave their child their first phone when they were six years old or younger while 25% of parents waited until the kid was 11 to 12 years old before giving them their own handsets.

However, gifting tech devices to children also carries with it a significant responsibility, primarily, to safeguard the safety and well-being of the recipients. To achieve this, an open line of communication between you and your child is vital not only to explain the practical side of using devices, but also to foster trust and understanding. Evidently, the type of conversations you’ll be initiating will depend on the ages of kids. For younger children, it is critical that you concentrate on basic safety rules such as telling them not to share personal information with strangers. Older kids will benefit from a discussion on complex topics such as cyberbullying and online predators. For trust to occur, set clear expectations including guidelines for daily screentime. Similarly, it is essential to discourage device use before bed for a restful sleep.

A Harvard Medical School study suggests that blue wavelengths such as those found in electronics with screens can suppress melatonin and upset circadian rhythms which lead to sleep disturbances and other health issues.  Likewise, children should know that they can talk to you about anything without fear of reprisal, punishment, or judgment. Therefore, it is necessary to listen attentively to your kid’s concerns and questions. You can even schedule regular talks about their online activities.

It is important, too to lead by example by being mindful of your own device usage and demonstrating responsible social media use.

Parental Controls

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to trust your children full control of their devices. As such, parental controls are essential  to ensure your child’s safety and well-being in the digital age.  Fortunately, most modern smartphones and tablets offer built-in parental control features.

Third party apps such as Qustodia, Bark, and Google Family Link are also available. Parental controls help limit your child’s exposure to harmful content and individuals. Online predators often target children and teens to exert power and control. Thus, by monitoring your child’s online activity, it is possible to identify and address any signs of cyber bullying.

The prevalence of cyber bullying among children is quite high and it has detrimental effects on their emotional health and well-being. Children who are bullied online are not capable of defending themselves. . Likewise, parental controls can help prevent your child from engaging in cyber bullying behavior. A study by Schonfeld et al indicated that both victims and offenders of cyberbullying and bullying are likely to experience suicidal thoughts, attempts, or completed suicides.  

Screen time management is an important feature of parental control. This way, you can set limits on screen time to make sure that a healthy balance between digital and physical activities exists. Studies have shown that excessive screen time can negatively impact a kids sleep, physical health, and social development. It is also possible to control which apps your child can access and for how long. Moreover, use parental controls to filter inappropriate content such as explicit or violent material protecting your offspring from harmful influences.

Research indicates that there is a connection between violent or inappropriate content and children’s behavior. Parental control also makes it possible to track the location of your child if they have a smartphone. 

Digital literacy is vital in today’s technology-driven world. Through open communication and parental controls, parents and guardians can help ensure that children and teens use tech responsibly and safely.