One of the difficult parts about being a parent is knowing that your kids will eventually start using the internet and social media. Many of us are aware of the risks of existing online, beyond the potential for cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content—data protection is also a big issue.
There were 3,158 individual data compromises in the US in 2024 alone, affecting over 1.35 billion people. Whenever you share your personal data online, you’re doubling the likelihood of it being stolen and used incorrectly or even dangerously. This is concerning enough for anyone, but even more so for children, who are more vulnerable and likely to fall for a scam or phishing attack.
With all that in mind, how can you keep your children safe and protect their privacy online? Here are seven expert tips to follow.
Teach Your Child How to Spot Suspicious Activity
Walk through potential scenarios and make sure they’re aware of what suspicious activity could look like. The better they can do this, the less likely they are to fall victim to a scammer or hacker online.
Use Parental Controls and Privacy Settings Effectively
Parental controls can be controversial, and kids can be clever enough to work around them anyway. That said, using them to restrict what your children can see, as well as talking to your kids about the dangers of the internet, can be a helpful way to keep their data safe.
Keep Personal Information Off Public Profiles
If your kids have social media accounts, limit the information they share on there. Make sure they’re not displaying their email addresses or phone numbers online. You can even have them use their middle name instead of a surname, or a nickname instead of their first name.
Use Non-VoIP Numbers for Account Creation
When your children are creating accounts that require a phone number, rather than using a personal number (either your child’s or your own), use a non-VoIP number from a provider like SMSPool. Check here to learn about these numbers and how they help protect your privacy.
Talk About Safe Online Communication Habits
Communicating online can be an exciting concept for your children, but many are unaware of the dangers of doing so. Make sure your kids understand the consequences of talking to strangers and sharing private information with people they don’t know.
Encourage Strong and Unique Passwords
You can probably admit to being guilty of using the same password across multiple apps and platforms, especially as a kid. But this makes account hacking easier, so rather than using their pet’s name or their favorite kind of cookie as a password, get your kids to use strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts.
Update Devices and Software Regularly
Finally, apps and online services offer regular software updates to continuously improve their privacy and security measures. Make sure your child is updating the apps and platforms they use whenever an update comes through, so their accounts can stay as secure as possible.
