Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1127680
12 | r e d f c u.o r g For kids, summer signals the ultimate freedom and excitement. But as a parent whose children are old enough to stay home unsupervised while you're at work, you may feel some apprehension no matter how much you trust them. How can you help them stay safe, especially when it comes to all that time they will spend on their phone, laptop or other devices? ere's no substitute for good communication when it comes to your kids' online security. You've probably talked for years about the importance of keeping their personal information private, but remind them to be cautious in their posts, pictures and videos because those things stay out there forever. Show them how to make strong passwords, and repeat your ground rules: no talking or meeting with people they don't know in real life, and no sharing their full name, address or phone number. Resources for Privacy Seings and Controls Apple® support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/check-apps-websites-child-mchlp2911/mac Google™ safety.google/families Addressing responsible online expectations and encouraging open discussion are first and foremost, but here are some additional safety measures: Check privacy settings. Check settings on apps, networks and devices to make sure geotagging features (identifying user locations) are off. Also, look at your kids' privacy settings in their social media accounts to ensure strangers can't see their profiles. Know your kids' login information for phones and online accounts. Make sure they understand that you're not going to spy on them and that you respect their privacy. Often just knowing that a parent could periodically check their accounts is a strong deterrent. Look into parental controls. Basic parental controls and content filters are available through most internet browsers via an internet options folder. You should also be able to use your internet service provider's security app to configure child- safe internet filtering and block certain sites. For additional limitations, special content filter programs offer the ability to permanently enable safe searches, log your children's web activity, restrict internet time and more. Do your homework on secret apps. Secret apps may look like your typical smartphone app, with a calculator or game, for example. But they are designed to be a decoy that covers up true cellphone activity. Make sure the apps on your child's devices are legit. Home Alone: KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE THIS SUMMER