Digital safety during social distancing

Tech-wise Parenting During Social Distancing: Three Tips to Implement TODAY

Today, March 16, 2020, marks an unprecedented time in most of our lives. Those who may have lived through The Great Depression or WWII might be able to identify with having to adjust to such a widespread disruption in ‘life as we know it.’ 

However, for those of us parenting the iGeneration, never before have we been thrust into such reliance on the internet for academics and entertainment in general. With the sweeping school closures across the country and mandatory remote working for many parents starting today, the amount of time spent on devices will be skyrocketing. 
Here are three steps you can easily take today to make sure your children are safely accessing devices, appropriate apps, and the internet:

1. Make sure “safe search” is enabled on your browser to filter sexually explicit content as your children are completing schoolwork (or for any reason they may be online). Click here for a quick tutorial on how to implement this safety measure.
2. For parents, grandparents, or caregivers who are loaning THEIR devices to children, learn how to use “guided access” to restrict access to apps, websites, etc. This tutorial covers how to limit access to a specific game/app, a particular video on YouTube or YouTube Kids, and a particular website (all pre-approved by you). Click here for a short tutorial explaining guided access.
3. Talk to your children about the dangers of online content (specifically) pornography) and online communication with strangers. Click here for ten easy conversation starters provided by The National Center for on Sexual Exploitation’s Safeguard Alliance project. 

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