Cyberchat #1
Dear Friend,
We at SafetyNet® understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate the digital landscape: what to look out for, who to trust, and how to talk to our children about potential threats. With CyberChat, our expert staff will be sharing insights, tips, and strategies to cultivate a safer and smarter online experience with smart cyber choices. Together we can keep our community safe.
With gratitude,
Jessica Bravo
SafetyNet® Bilingual Presenter
Our Top Three Privacy Setting Tips
Has a child in your life recently acquired a new device? Here are three tips on privacy settings to help protect your kids from online dangers.
- Keep Things Private: When your child gets a new device, set up privacy settings before handing it over. The default settings on many devices are geared toward information sharing, which jeopardizes privacy and safety. These settings control who can see their online content. Make sure only trusted friends and family can view their information. It’s like putting a virtual lock on their digital stuff.
- Choose Strong Passwords: Teach your child how to create strong passwords. A strong password is like a secret code that only they should know. It helps protect their accounts from being hacked. Encourage them to use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols for a super secure password. We recommend using at least 12 characters for each password, and make sure each of your children’s accounts have a different password.
- Check App Permissions: Show your child how to review and choose what information apps can access. Some apps might ask for more details than needed. Make sure they understand and only give permission for what’s necessary. It’s like deciding who gets a key to your personal information. This includes making sure all social media apps do not have location sharing activated, and the accounts are set to private.
Always talk openly with your child about being safe online and let them know they can come to you if they ever feel uncomfortable or unsure about something.
Check out these resources on managing your privacy settings:
- Police warn parents about new iPhone feature
- About privacy and Location Services in iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS
- Android privacy settings and permissions
- National Cybersecurity Alliance: Direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services, as well as privacy policies and statements.
Pair and Link Devices with OurPact
Pairing and linking devices with your child allows for more control of online access. You can achieve this with several free apps, but if you’re seeking a more advanced management tool, consider OurPact as your answer.
OurPact is a Parental Control & Family Locator app that allows parents to set screen time management rules for their children’s iOS or Android mobile devices and use safety tools to see their children’s locations and gain insight into their device usage.
SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® is a collaborative program of the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SD-ICAC) and the San Diego Police Foundation. It is designed to help kids, parents, educators, and concerned adults learn how to keep kids safe online.