It is that special time of the year when families are happy to celebrate the Christmas holiday season; however, what parents must also question is how kids stay safe for the this holiday season.
Since children spend a lot of time on the internet during the current festive season, the following are a few safety tips for the Christmas holiday season to ensure safety while browsing online.
Research shows that online dangers are 45% higher during the holidays and children fall victim to bullying, fraud, and exposure to immoral content. Therefore it is prudent that parents should employ the following preventive measures, to ensure their child has a fun holiday season, in the face of these risks.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding common online risks can help parents stay one step ahead.
- Setting up user controls on devices is a simple way to keep things safe.
- Trust, communication, and sharing experiences make the internet a safer place for everyone.
- Track their social media activity
- Monitor calls and messages
- Get real-time location updates
- Ensure their safety with advanced parental controls
Issues of Internet Security That Parents Face During Christmas Holiday
During this holiday season, parents often encounter several common online safety problems that can jeopardize their children’s well-being:
Cyberbullying:
Sadly, the holiday period may see an upswing in cyberbullying in children online as young individuals may feel compelled to conform to some group or are bullied into doing so.
Too Much Screen Time:
Children can spend numerous hours on devices, which can cause health problems and decrease the degree of physical activity when out of school for the long term.
Holiday Scams and Online Fraud:
There have always been cases of people being scammed during the holiday period, especially families, this is because fraudsters will create a fake deal or create a phishing site where when people enter their details, they end up being scammed.
Stranger Danger in Multiplayer Games:
Lots of children play games online with multiple players; they can potentially meet strangers who may harm them or try to deceive them.
Unsafe Holiday-Related Content:
It can drown out other sites containing potentially more damaging information, such as predatory content, that the child may come across in a search for holiday entertainment or games, for example.
Accidental Purchases in Games and Apps:
Users often get carried away with buying virtual items such that they end up making purchases that they never intended thus charging their family accounts. And this type of scams often trick users into sharing personal information or making purchases through fake ads or links.
Oversharing Personal Information:
Children often do not understand that certain things are risky when posted on social media, especially during the festive seasons.
Setting Up Parental Controls App to Manage Online Activity
Sadly, technology has turned into a safety issue when it comes to children during the Christmas holiday season hence the need to set controls in place for parents. These controls let parents have an eye on their children, limit their time on the Internet, and, if necessary, block specific websites.
The new age parental control apps for internet comes with so many cool features that you are bound to become a fan. When you have a parental control software like TiSPY installed on the smartphone of your child, you can stay assured of his/her safety even from a distance. There is no longer a need for you to wait for your teen’s phone call, Whatsapp or SMS on his/her current status and further plans for the remaining holidays. There are certain times when you just know it that there is something fishy. So, keep your worries aside and get your hands on the real facts. The following are some of the amazing features that you can find in a parental control Software like TiSPY.
The location tracker feature of a spy software is all about letting you know the past and current location of your child in real-time. TiSPY provides you real-time interactive maps that help you in drawing out the full path of the phone for the day.
Teaching Kids about Online Privacy
Of significance during holidays is the need to teach children more about security online. Parents should sit down and explain to their children what is considered personal information and why it should not be made public. Explaining to the kids what phishing is and how to spot suspicious messages can go a long way to helping them avoid dangerous choices online.
Furthermore, parents should ensure their children are using good passwords for the sites and setting their privacy in the accounts they open. When these habits are fostered when the child is still young, parents will make it easy for the child to face the internet appropriately.
Balancing Screen Time with Spent on Offline Activities
Even though the use of electronics is crucial in people’s lives, coming up with crucial prevention measures that recognize the differences between kids’ screen time and offline activities is critical to their well-being during the holiday season.
Children should be occupied in many activities that they cannot use devices, they should be taken to play outdoors or be encouraged to draw or to play board games with the family. Parents can limit the use of electronic devices to particular times so that children would agree on the fact that they can use devices just when it’s set and would not feel left out charging friends for being active all day with them.
This balance means that during the festive season, people spend more time with their families not only improving their physical health but also increasing the family bond.
Open Communication about Online Behavior
Regular talks with children about their experience on the internet, actions taken online, and keeping a check on the time spent on the devices is the best way to keep our children safe during the holidays.
Parents need to provide their children with proper guidance on the Internet to make kids comfortable when talking about experiences that may upset them, or make them afraid they will be punished. It’s wise for parents to ask their children about what they are doing on social networks so that the parents can see the problem at an early stage.
You may wish to extend the idea of reporting uncomfortable occurrences that the kids may go through while using the technology to include sharing with a parent so that they can be taught better. When it concerns communication, families can collaborate to manage the challenges of digital parenting most proficiently.
Safeguarding The Holiday Season Online
During the holiday season, it’s important to stay mindful of what our kids are doing online. Simple rules and open conversations can help keep them safe while still allowing them to enjoy the fun. A few easy practical steps can make sure their holidays are filled with joy, not worry.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Stay joyful and ‘Tech Safe’ this holiday season!
Smart measures to ensure safe device usage by your children.
