Welcome to our parent tech tip series as part of Internet Safety day! We will be sharing some very useful tips on parental controls, limiting screen time, age of digital consent and much more!! Remember we are all working together for a better internet!! 

Parental Controls

Parental controls are available on most Internet-enabled devices including computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming systems.

Parental controls can help reduce the risk of your child visiting dangerous websites online. We recommend using parental controls especially for younger children on all available devices in the home.

Whether your child has access to an Android/Apple smartphone or tablet, parental controls are available across all of these devices. You can turn off functions like in-app purchasing, social networks, app store access, camera access, Bluetooth and more.

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Screen Time

If your child spends a lot of time on screens and you are worried about their: you may need to limit their screen time.

Here’s some ideas on how you can help reduce your child’s screen time:

1. Encourage children to ‘earn’ screen time tokens or passes when they do other things like playing outside before using screens. 

2. Have screen-free times or zones at home (for example, no screens at dinner time, at homework time or in bedrooms)

3. Use apps on devices that limit screen time use. 

4. Have a plan or timetable for screen time use that all the family agrees. Share this plan with important others (like grandparents or babysitters).

5.Find other activities your child could do such as: spending time on other hobbies giving them little jobs or chores such as making their bed , playing with toys or board games, dancing or colouring a picture.

 

Let’s Talk Apps

 

Is your child using social media apps? GDPR regulations require an Age of Digital Consent – the minimum age a user must be before a social media or internet company can collect, process and store their data. But what is that age? 

For Instagram - 13 years old. 

For Snapchat - 13 years old

Tik Tok - 13 years old 

You tube - 13 years old

Facebook - 13 years old

Twitter - 13 years old

It is worth checking the age ratings on apps, where available.

Establish an open dialogue around internet use with your child, ensure your child knows to come to you if they are upset by something they see online. Having regular discussions with your child about what they are doing will also help create a positive online experience from a young age. 

Advice

The internet is a wonderful learning resource packed with fascinating and informative information, games and websites.

 

Being online is now an integral part of teenage life, and the opportunities the internet offers provides young people with many positive benefits. However, just like in the offline world, life online also comes with its share of ups and downs.

 

An important step in promoting positive online self-esteem within your child is to engage in an ongoing conversation with them.

The free Webwise Parent Toolkit contains a range of useful resources and materials to help support parents to engage with their children and teenager’s lives online. It provides information, advice and conversation starters about the benefits and risks they need to be aware of when using the internet. Topics explored in the guide include cyberbullying, screen time,and  social media.

 

Thank you so much for tuning into our parent tech tip series as part of internet safety day. We hope you have learnt something new! 

 

Remember TOGETHER FOR A BETTER INTERNET