Ultimate guide to kids’ digital safety, at every age

(BPT) – Technology is an integral part of education today. As kids head back to class, it’s crucial to understand the potential digital safety challenges they may encounter. You can equip yourself with the knowledge to educate your children, regardless of their age or grade level, by providing them with tools they need both in and out of the classroom to become responsible digital citizens.This guide can help you understand some of the risks your kids may face, along with age-appropriate steps to help keep your family safe.Navigating potential threatsThe potential online safety threats your children face and their ability to use and understand technology changes as they grow and develop. Start by setting age-appropriate limits for device use and take time to educate them about potential hazards of the online world. This foundation will help them make smart, informed decisions as they grow and use technology in different ways.Early introductions to technology: preschool and elementary schoolChildren’s interactions with technology start even before they enter grade school. During these crucial years, young children use devices to explore videos, play games, complete schoolwork and communicate with friends and family online.Some of the potential risks at this age include encountering inappropriate content, clicking on dangerous phishing links that may infect their device with malware and even engaging with people they should not.Start early by setting a good example of responsible digital use. Have open and candid conversations about technology regularly with your children. Reassure them that if they encounter anything online that upsets or scares them, they can talk to you without fear of getting in trouble.Understand your school’s tech policies and how your kids are being taught to use their devices responsibly. Consider checking out The Smart Talk, a resource created by the National PTA and Norton to help facilitate and guide discussions about safe technology use with your child. Tools such as Norton Parental Control can also help you safeguard your children from online threats by blocking websites and inappropriate content, setting screen time limits and monitoring their activity, including searches and app use.Growing up fast: middle school and high schoolThese years can be challenging. It’s when kids engage in more digital exploration, personal communication with friends and expression through social media. Kids will explore a wider range of websites and apps for personal and academic purposes, making them more vulnerable to various online threats. When they use social media and messaging apps, they may also face risks like cyberbullying, exchanging inappropriate content and scams.Teens can be an easy target for scammers. Educating them about email, text and social media scams will help them better spot one in the wild. Teens should especially be cautious talking to and accepting messages from people they don’t know to ensure their digital and physical safety.Be open with your child regarding their social media usage and how they engage online, through apps and texts. At this age, teens should understand that once something is online, it lives there forever. Once they send a message or photo, they lose control of where it ends up. Recognize the signs of cyberbullying and encourage your children to confide in you if they experience harassment online or inappropriate messages, such as sexting. Resources like Norton Family can monitor your family’s online presence, protect their devices, manage your teen’s virtual learning environment and even teach them safe online habits. These resources help create a safer, more informed digital environment for your family.Independent young adults: collegeLeaving the nest is a huge milestone that comes with newfound independence and responsibility. It’s crucial for college students to stay informed about risks they may encounter during this new phase of their life.Young adults manage their own bank accounts, Social Security numbers and sensitive personal information. Scammers target them sometimes disguised as fellow students to access their personal data, steal their identity or trick them into a scam. Using public Wi-Fi networks in coffee shops, dorms or libraries can also leave college students vulnerable to viruses and malware attacks.Products like Norton 360 with LifeLock identity protection will protect your college student from viruses, hackers and identity thieves. It also includes a virtual private network or VPN to keep their internet browsing private when connecting to public or insecure networks. They can also download Norton Genie, a free scam detector app that leverages AI to identify and avoid common scams in real time.As a parent, you’ll never stop worrying — but with knowledge about potential threats plus these tools under their belt, you can help your children become smart consumers of technology and educate them on how to navigate the technology needed to get them through school at every age, explore the world, make social connections and learn the skills they’ll need as responsible adults.Visit Norton.com to learn more about keeping your family safer from online threats.