Article specially written for Kiddoware.Com By: Felicity Amber
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Today’s unprecedented boom of mobile applications and
websites is one of the most obvious indicators of how technology is changing
the world. Smartphones have invaded even smart homes, with parents struggling
to keep up with their kids who always seem to be harping on about new mobile
games or exciting new websites.
Maryville
University highlights how this demand for mobile applications is
expected to skyrocket as technologies and the industries fueled by them become
more advanced over time. Pretty soon, your little ones will be asking you for
the latest kiddie-sized VR headsets or hippest digital dance mats — oh wait, VR
headsets for kids already exist. With these developments comes additional risks
and threats for you and your children.
The dangers of the Internet and online interactions are boundless and can run
deep in both subtle and obvious ways. For instance, advertisers use popular
influencers on social media sites like Instagram
and YouTube to target tweens and kids while simultaneously
collecting data they can use for personalized ads. Additionally, some things
online are not what they seem, and certain links may lead to harmful messages
or images. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to avoid these dangers
hidden in plain sight — we’ve listed some of them below.
Watch out for malware
Tech
Jury reveals that an estimated 175 billion applications are
downloaded every year, with each person having an average of 80 apps on their
phone. Out of the huge number of apps being downloaded annually, there’s a
fraction that definitely contain malware that can damage your phone, steal
personal information, or even take photos of your kids while they use it.
Be cautious about these malwares and get apps from trusted vendors. Likewise,
try to only visit websites with reliable sources who have a long history of
providing safe and kid-friendly content.
Read the fine print
Sometimes an app or a website doesn’t even need malware to access your personal
data, as you may unknowingly be giving it up yourself. The box you often tick
that says “I agree,” might hold more weight than you think.
Avoid falling into permission traps by reading the fine print and actually
inspecting the user agreements. Apps and websites should not have access to
anything unrelated to what they’re used for, and they definitely shouldn’t know
your location if you’re not even using them. Only download apps and access
websites that have a clear and justifiable user privacy notice, as these are
the ones likely abiding by privacy and data protection laws.
Check reviews
The great thing about the Internet is that it allows consumers to give
immediate and public feedback for others to see. This makes it easy for you to
check what other kids, or more importantly, what other parents are saying about
a certain app or website.
Be wary about fake reviews posted by bots or paid users. It’s easy to pick out
which reviews are fake and which are real once you get used to sifting through
lots of them, as some will just stand out as being more genuine than others.
All in all, it is possible to keep your little ones safe when using apps and
websites through monitoring them properly. Keep in mind that on top of all of
these tips, you should be limiting how often they access phones and computers.
A study from the University of
Calgary found that too much screen time for children contributes to
slower development, as well as possible behavioral issues down the line. Smart
parents know that they should not get totally carried away by smart tech, as
they are aware of the consequences of excessive and unsupervised screen time
for kids. Instead, they carve out time for real world face-to-face
interactions, which are not only invaluable for children’s emotional and mental
development, but are also guaranteed to be free of malwares and fake reviews.
Article specially written for Kiddoware.Com
By: Felicity Amber