How to protect your children with technology?
The internet is both a boon and a danger to children. On the one hand, it offers a powerful space for learning. Conversely, some areas of the internet invoke fear in parents. This is especially the case when they learn 40% of children in grades four through eight have interacted with a stranger online.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your children with technology to keep them away from these people. Here are five suggestions.
GPS tracking
It seems that GPS has been part of our society forever. Yet, it’s only been available to the public for a few decades. Since then, it has become an incredibly useful tool to pinpoint locations and map destinations.
In recent years, GPS tracking has become a common technology to help locate individuals and groups. This is not through the injection of a chip into your children, though it’s possible. Instead, you can put a tracker in their backpack or track them via their mobile devices.
Furthermore, apps are now available for the live tracking of your children. This isn’t so much to spy on them. It’s about keeping your children safe from harm.
Technology education
Some parents want to keep their children safe with technology. However, they run into difficulties because they aren’t literate in items like computers or mobile devices. Thus, they don’t have the proper tools on-hand.
Confront this with technology education. There are several websites out there, including some government ones, that offer free courses on how certain devices operate. So, you can’t make the excuse that nothing is available.
This isn’t something to pass on for another day. The more you know about technology’s benefits and disadvantages the better prepared you are to protect your children.
Mobile devices
Before cell phones became a normal part of life, parents told their children to call them at a friend’s house or payphone to make sure they were okay. When they didn’t respond, they’d panic. Today, the regular use of mobile devices maximizes a child’s protection.
For instance, there are more ways to ensure their safety. In addition to GPS tracking, you have the power to text them if they haven’t called. If neither of those options works, many service providers allow you to track a device through its serial number or IMEI code.
Website filters
In addition to speaking with strangers on the internet, children are also susceptible to harsh images and words that shouldn’t be seen. These have the potential of causing anxiety and other mental issues. A technology that prevents this is website filters.
This comes in different forms. Numerous companies produce apps that allow you to set permissions on what your children see on the internet. Further, well-known browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have built-in controls to increase sensitivity or add URLs to a blacklist.
These filters also apply to mobile devices. There are available apps that curb what your child sees or downloads. With some programs, you can have it ask for your permission to proceed.
Hands-free communication
Teenagers are three times more likely to get into an accident than someone over 20. Some of this is related to the new experience. The rest is connected to distractions like speaking on their cell phones.
The best way to prevent this is to establish hands-free communication in the vehicle. Today’s phones feature Bluetooth technology that hooks up to a compatible device. In doing so, calls can be sent and received through another device.
Modern vehicles tend to be equipped with this technology. You can also install a Bluetooth-compatible infotainment system on older cars. Though the initial cost could be high, the return on investment is your child’s safety.
There’s an additional advantage to hands-free communication. Most of the time, this can’t be configured while the teen is driving. It only takes place when the car is off or parked.
Conclusion
The five ways mentioned to protect your child with technology aren’t a complete list. There are other products in wearable and application forms that provide different levels of security. In the end, you must take time to research what each one provides. Don’t go for the lowest-priced item to save money. Your child is worth an investment if a product or program provides a maximum amount of safety.