How to keep your child’s identity private?
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
No matter how you plan to raise your child, chances are you want them to grow up as a unique individual. From their interests and hobbies to who they date or marry, we must try our best not to influence those choices. Yet, preserving a child’s identity both online and offline is overlooked.
You may think this isn’t worth worrying about until it comes time for them to look for jobs and colleges. But in actuality, what happens before then can affect what happens afterward, even if by a few years’ difference. Making sure your family is following some of these steps now will help ensure things go later on. Therefore, read below for five ways to keep your child’s identity private.
Hide their identity online
Make sure they know how important it is that no one can find them online. If need be, teach them the importance of privacy settings and blocking social media sites from public view. There are many apps available for both Android and Apple devices. This allows you or your children to block their location on a map while still using GPS. Also, having an open conversation about what might happen in certain situations may help ease some anxiety caused by parents not tracking them down when needed.
Limit their conversations
Limit conversations with strangers, primarily through Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Why? Because there is more potential involved than would otherwise be present had you been face to face with a person. There’s nothing wrong with having friends, but you must know precisely who they are, where they live, and how old they may be before allowing them into your child’s life.
Track apps in their devices
Track what apps your children have downloaded on their devices and the content of said apps. This is because there are sometimes hidden risks involved in downloading specific applications. This means checking up on things like age restrictions, which can vary between 12+ to 17+. If an app seems unsafe, delete it immediately after reading their reviews.
Keep their Facebook and Instagram accounts private
This is something that should be done regardless of whether your child has a smartphone. These two sites are most often used to see what someone does in their free time, where they go on vacation, who’s with them at certain events.
Setting your child up for success now will lead to fewer problems later when applying for colleges. Also, when applying for jobs, ask about social media profiles. Ensure you have access to all passwords associated with these accounts, along with being able to edit each post before it goes live.
Don’t forget about school newspapers
Even if your child doesn’t have a smartphone, chances are they’ll be involved in some school activities. This means there’s a good chance that their name will end up being published online somewhere. Thus, it’s best to monitor everything they put out at school. Also, what the paper itself publishes can easily go viral if not taken care of properly from the start.
Window tint
Window tinting is a great way to help keep your child’s identity private. It has features that are very beneficial for parents who want their children to have the freedom they deserve. But also, don’t want them harassed by strangers at all hours of the day. It can be difficult for many parents to find a solution that allows their children to have the freedom they need while keeping them safe.
Carbon window tint is special glazing or coating on windows that reduce visibility into your home from outside. This gives you peace of mind knowing what is going on inside your home is private.
It blocks 99% of ultraviolet rays, which can affect the development of children’s eyesight and skin over time. This is especially true when they are in their car seats or strollers for long periods during the day. It has been shown that window tinting can help reduce eye strain from exposure to bright sunlight.
Final thoughts
Taking the time to help your children understand what it means to have a private online and offline identity will lay down some groundwork in that direction. One day when they go out into the world on their own, you’ll be able to know that everything was done possible for them so far despite not being perfect every single step of the way.