The Fantabulous Chronicles

👀 Have you considered that the exposure to outside threats is now greater given that unlike any other time in history, our youth are now accessing not only large sums of digital data, but also larger communities as technology makes the world smaller? Yet, with everything at our finger tips, why does the world seem so disconnected? Today we will navigate a few of these questions with tips and tricks that you can experiment with within your own family setting.

🙌 Let me emphasize that my intention isn’t to dictate how you should raise your children or to prescribe a specific age for them to venture online. Instead, I aim to provide guidance on ensuring their safety as they explore online spaces. Among all the counsel I can offer, one principle stands above the rest: cultivate open communication with your children and your family at large. This ensures that they perceive you as a reliable source of support not only during joyous moments but also in times of adversity. By establishing robust lines of communication within your family, you’ve already erected the initial defensive barrier that serves to shield them in the online realm.

🌐 The Internet has introduced us to an ever-evolving landscape brimming with opportunities at every turn. However, amidst the surging accessibility to information, monetization, and virtual experiences, we sometimes inadvertently lower our guard, rendering us susceptible to online scammers and predators. Always exercise caution when interacting with individuals online, whether for yourself or your children. If you wouldn’t trust them with your vital information, akin to a random passerby on the street, refrain from divulging sensitive details such as your address, banking information, cash app usage (PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, etc…), your children’s school, or your regular means of communication.

🕵️‍♂️ Predators thrive in an environment of secrecy and weak communication within households. They exploit the natural yearning of children to be acknowledged and their desire for a sense of belonging. Avoid Apps with automatically vanishing messages and stress the significance of refraining from sending private messages containing inappropriate conversations or images, as digital content seldom remains private and nothing ever truly disappears from the internet.

🕵️‍♂️ Predators thrive in an environment of secrecy and weak communication within households. They exploit the natural yearning of children to be acknowledged and their desire for a sense of belonging. Avoid Apps with automatically vanishing messages and stress the significance of refraining from sending private messages containing inappropriate conversations or images, as digital content seldom remains private and nothing ever truly disappears from the internet.

🔍 Instill in your children from a young age the notion that any information, regardless of its source, should be subjected to their own filtering process: Trust but Verify. This approach entails absorbing information from the internet, the media, acquaintances, or any other source, treating it as credible data. However, before disseminating the message or incorporating it into your decisions, take the time to validate its accuracy. The speed at which data spreads in the modern era is a double-edged sword—both a blessing and a curse. By verifying what we learn, we can ensure not only that we are sharing only accurate data, but we also take a proactive approach to avoiding the pitfalls that most scammers try to exploit.

💡 Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started:

• If using an Iphone/Ipad, enable guided access for small children, as this will keep the Iphone/Ipad in the app that you open until you enter your passcode, essentially preventing them from having free reign on the device. You can find this in Settings -> Accessibility -> Guided Access
• Set App Age Restrictions and Content Restrictions – On an Iphone/Ipad you can find these settings under Settings -> Screen Time – > Content & Privacy Restrictions
• On an Android Device, the Parental Controls can be found by opening the Google Play App, Clicking Settings-> Family -> Parental Controls
• Make sure to know the pin codes / passwords for the devices and I would recommend having them charge in a main living space rather than in kids’ bedrooms
• Talk to your kids, ask them about their day, stay involved in their lives.

🚨 Signs of Scammers & Predators Online:

• Promise something that is too good to be true
• Want something in return
• Want secrecy – this is especially true for predators online
• Start with seemingly innocent questions such as: Where do you live? Where are you from? How was your day? Have you heard about this ….. program that offers such and such benefit?
• Get impatient quickly if you don’t cooperate
• Often want bank information or screenshots of accounts
• Get pushy if you ask questions or don’t give them what they want right away

📢 Share your own tips and tricks in the comments below for ensuring the safety of our youth online. We look forward to hearing from you! 📢