Internet safety tips for kids

By Carina Boucher | Citizens Staff

The internet can be a scary place — especially for your kids. Whether they’re buying virtual currency in the newest online video game or checking the balance on their first checking account, it’s important that they know some basic internet safety tips.

Setting ground rules

You won’t always be around to see what your child is doing online, so it’s important to set expectations before they even log on. Some rules could be:

• Only play parent-approved games
• No in-app purchases without your permission
• No responding to messages they may receive
• Never give out personal information

Of course, the rules will vary child to child depending on how old they are. Putting parental controls or privacy settings where possible is also a great way to help enforce some of the rules that you set.

Keep your personal information personal

As hard as it may be to explain, it’s important to talk to your child about personal info and why it’s just that — personal. It’s important to explain that for their safety, they should never give out information like:

• Their age
• Birthdate
• Home address
• Phone number
• Social Security number
• School name

Not only is it important to keep those safe, but things like PINs, bank account numbers or credit card numbers should never be given out online. Depending on their age and how complex your explanation can be, you can tell them how “bad guys” or “thieves” can steal their information to buy things, open accounts in their name or create fake documents.

The world of internet gaming

If your child spends their free time gaming online, it’s important for them to know about online safety and the risks involved. Besides keeping their information private, they may be able to buy currency to spend in the game’s virtual world.

A lot of games incentivize kids to make purchases in the game — it’s important that they know this is real money. Left unattended, they could really rack up your credit card bill. This could be a great lesson in budgeting. Give them a certain amount they can spend and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

You can also help them learn the value of the money they’re spending by making them earn it. A few ways they could earn:

• Walk the dog
• Make their bed
• Help load or unload the dishwasher
• Vacuum
• Put away their laundry

When they earn their money, they’ll learn responsibility and probably think twice about how they spend it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get a little help around the house!

Online gaming scams are also something your child should know to watch out for. When a fraudster is able to get access to someone’s gaming account, they can spread spam or links to other gamers. They could also get ahold of the credit card attached to that account, steal the information, and withdraw funds.

Gaming isn’t all bad — it can teach kids cooperation and teamwork, as well as help with social skills and building friendships. Coupled with earning money and how to budget, it can be a great learning tool.

The influence of influencers

Kids aren’t just seeing their friends buying things, they’re also getting bombarded with influencer reviews and ads. Not only is your child turning to influencers for entertainment, but possibly for advice or comfort.

Making purchases online is easier than ever. With one-click shopping, “buy now” buttons and stored card information, you can buy the item you want in seconds flat. Between that and the power of influencers and even social peer pressure to have the latest and greatest item, it’s important to talk to your child (probably your middle-schooler or teen) about practical spending habits and online risks.

Social media can trigger impulse spending — and your child may be using money that isn’t their own. The speed and convenience of online shopping can also cause them to be less diligent, resulting in online fraud. According to accrediteddebtrelief.com, the BBB scam tracker has received thousands of complaints over Facebook and Instagram ads that were misleading. Some types of fraud they may be exposed to on social media:

• Free trials
• Counterfeit merchandise
• Products that claim they support a charity
• Products that never arrive/customer service that can’t be reached
• Giveaway fraud

If you’re going to let your child make purchases online, urge them to do some research on the company before they hit the “pay” button. They can also search the company name + “scam” or “complaint” to see if any red flags pop up. You can learn more about online shopping scams on the Federal Trade Commission website.

Ready to keep them safe

Parenting is hard, and the internet can make it even harder. When you’re ready to have these informative conversations with your kids, we’re ready to help. Visit our cybersecurity hub for tips to keep you and your kids’ personal data safe while you browse online together, help them perform a cyber wellness check and have them take quizzes to test their cyber knowledge.