Last week, Alex was hosted by Jeffery M. Leving, famed father’s right advocate and long-time client of AZBS, on his weekly Chicago Counterpoint TV on CAN-TV, Channel 21. Mr. Leving and other viewers asked important questions about how to keep their kids safe on the internet.
Alex’s key recommendations during this security discussions were:
- Education. Talking with your children to about what kind of websites are acceptable, versus those that are unscrupulous, and potentially harmful or unsafe. Provide a list of do’s and don’ts such as:
- Not sharing personal information with strangers such as last names, locations, etc.
- Not sending photos to strangers or family and friends that are not appropriate.
- Do not engage in cyber bullying. Words cannot be taken back once they are online.
- Shadowing. Sitting side-by-side with your child when they are learning to use the internet helps to develop good habits, and identify any potential risks of your child’s existing habits so they are addressed early.
- Monitor behavior. Using tools like parental controls on your home computer, “Find my iPhone” or other mobile device tracking applications, and reviewing browsing history or communication sent from mobile devices are important. Knowing what your child is doing or communicating allows you as a parent to manage their behavior, and protect them from any potential threats.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CNBC, Yahoo Finance and other major publications picked up the announcement of their security discussions in the days leading up to the show. Click here to view the Bloomberg press release.
If you have any questions about keeping your child safe and secure in the age of the internet and social media, contact us, and Alex would be happy to provide advice.
