By Allyssa DelPiano, Marketing Specialist at Cayuga Centers
We have never been so connected yet so disconnected at the same time. These days, nearly everything happens in the digital world. From ordering food to streaming movies, connecting with friends, and even attending school, screens have become an unavoidable part of daily life. Social media platforms, video games, and endless online content keep kids engaged, but often at the cost of real-world interactions.
A 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center found almost half (46%) of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 report being online “almost constantly” which leaves little time for anything else. Young kids are affected, too, with kids ages 8 – 12 spending 4 – 6 hours a day doing online activities or using screens.
While the internet remains an invaluable resource for learning, it can also present significant challenges to school performance and developing positive social skills. It can even be a significant threat, especially for youth in foster care who may be more vulnerable due to past experiences.
As parents and foster parents, staying on top of digital trends is important. Understanding social media and internet safety hazards, knowing which online games your child is playing, and how they are utilizing screen time can help you implement effective strategies to minimize exposure and harm.
Common risks to look out for online
Exposure to inappropriate content
While online, children can accidentally find content that is not suitable for their age. Some of these include sexually explicit/pornographic content, violent or graphic content, animal or human cruelty, dangerous challenges or stunts, racist, sexist, or discriminatory language, substance use, dark web exposure, inappropriate video game interactions, in-game scams, or predatory exposure. Viewing these images and videos can lead to serious risks, such as social withdrawal, anxiety, or misinterpretation of the world around them. For example, they might develop a negative body image or form distorted views of reality. These issues can follow them into adulthood.
Online predators
The numbers are scary. There are about 500,000 child predators online at any time. In 2023, the CyberTipline received 36,210,368 reports of suspected child sexual exploitation, and these numbers continue to rise.
Cyberbullying
According to SchoolSafety.gov, bullying is a widespread issue in the U.S. It can lead to severe emotional distress, poor performance in school, substance abuse, long-term psychological effects, and in some cases, even suicide. Watch out for warning signs. Sudden changes in mood, demeanor, or negative self-comments could be warning signs that your child is being bullied.
Mental and physical health decline
Recent studies show children use digital devices at increasingly younger ages, and 25.6% of school-age children exhibit problematic internet use or internet addiction. Books like Generations by psychologist Jean Twenge predict that depression and anxiety will only worsen if current internet habits continue.
Privacy concerns
Sharing personal information can lead to easy access for cyberbullies or online predators. It can also lead to identity theft and long-term damage to their reputations and digital footprint.
Strategies for cyber-safety with teens and school-aged children
Open communication
Make sure children know it’s safe to discuss their online experiences. This openness can make them feel comfortable and deter secretive behavior, encouraging responsible internet use. Acknowledge how much time you and other family members spend online, and be honest with how it affects your household.
Educate them about online risks
Teach children in an age-appropriate way about the potential dangers of the internet. For instance, with kids ages 6-9, role play digital citizenship and best practices using real-life scenarios such as examples of fake friend requests or exaggerated online ads and the possible outcomes. For older teens, stress the importance of not taking or sharing photos of themselves (or friends) and reference real news stories such as the tragic case of Selena Rodriguez or the story of James Woods.
Implement robust parental controls
Use comprehensive parental control software that monitors internet usage, filters inappropriate content, and sets time limits. Regularly update and review these settings. Use online databases like Common Sense Media to check if a game is childsafe. Below is a list of additional helpful apps.
Monitor screen time
Establish clear guidelines for screen time to prevent excessive use. Keep your screen time passcode private (kids are great at watching you type), disable app installations, and regularly check time zone changes, settings and screen time reports. Encourage offline activities to promote a balanced lifestyle.
Stay informed
Keep abreast of the latest digital trends and platforms that children are using. This knowledge will help you understand potential risks and how to mitigate them.
Be vigilant with all parental control options
It may be frustrating but most kids will test boundaries in order to spend more time on their favorite social media platform. Many will look up how to hack screen time. Even with teaching children the risks of the internet, many tech-savvy children will attempt to bypass parental controls. Things to look out for include:
Using proxy websites
Proxy sites are sneaky because they look innocent. However, they are an undetected gateway to adult-only sites and to malware exposure. Think of it like a PO box for the internet. Just as a PO box hides your real address, proxy websites hide a user’s IP address and bypass content restrictions
Clearing browser history
Frequently clearing browsing history can stop parents from viewing visited websites. You can check the computer’s Recycle Bin or Trash to recover deleted browsing history.
Creating alternate accounts
Children might set up secondary accounts without parental controls to access restricted content. Keep an eye on usernames when the child is logged in to make sure it matches the account you are aware of.
Hacking screen time
Sometimes kids just want more time on their favorite apps, games and videos. Some ways they try to bypass screen time limits include changing the time zone, using a different device, using guest mode, deleting and reinstalling apps, asking Siri, or doing a factory reset on their device.
Protecting children in the digital age requires vigilance, education, and open communication. By understanding the risks and implementing proactive strategies, foster parents can create a safe online environment that supports the healthy development of the children in their care. Talk to your Cayuga Centers support team or parents in your foster parent support group for more ideas. Here are additional resources to explore.
Top Ranked Parental Control Apps for Internet Safety
- Bark: Recognized as the best overall parental control app, Bark offers comprehensive monitoring of emails, social media, and text messages. It also provides alerts for potential issues like cyberbullying or online predators.
- Boomerang: Comprehensive tools for managing screen time, app usage, web filtering, and location tracking to help parents ensure a safe digital experience.
- Canopy: Specializing in explicit content detection, Canopy actively scans and blocks inappropriate images and videos across apps and websites, ensuring a safer online experience for children.
- Family Time: Allows parents to monitor app usage, set homework and bedtime reminders, and track their child’s location in real-time.
- MMGuardian:Enables parents to view their child’s text messages, block specific contacts, and set usage limits on apps.
- Qustodio: Provides features such as web filtering, screen time management, and location tracking. It’s user-friendly and supports multiple devices. It also features a free version.
- Screen Time Labs: Manage screen time. Block apps. Filter web and view web history. Supervise all of your kid’s Android, iOS and Kindle devices from one easy-to-use dashboard.
Top Website to check online games and apps:
- Common Sense Media: Provides detailed reviews and age-based ratings for movies, TV shows, books, apps, and video games, helping parents make informed decisions.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB): Offers a comprehensive rating system for video games and apps, including content descriptors and age recommendations.
Websites to stay on top of trends, statistics or policy changes
- Cyberbullying Research Center: Dedicated to providing information on cyberbullying prevention, this site offers resources, research, and tools for parents, educators, and students on how to handle cyberbullying.
- Family Online Safety Institute: FOSI provides resources and research on creating a safer online environment for children, including expert advice on digital safety, social media usage, and tools for parents to monitor and protect their kids’ digital lives. They focus on fostering healthy online behaviors while keeping children safe from online dangers.
- Internet Safety 101: Offers resources to help families, schools, and organizations understand and teach internet safety, including tips on social media, cyberbullying, privacy, and screen time.
- Stop Bullying.gov: A resource from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, StopBullying.gov focuses on preventing bullying, including cyberbullying. It provides information for parents, teachers, and youth on how to recognize bullying, respond effectively, and prevent it online and in-person.
Top Website to check online games and apps
- Common Sense Media: Provides detailed reviews and age-based ratings for movies, TV shows, books, apps, and video games, helping parents make informed decisions.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB): Offers a comprehensive rating system for video games and apps, including content descriptors and age recommendations.
Websites to stay on top of trends, statistics, or policy changes
- Cyberbullying Research Center: Dedicated to providing information on cyberbullying prevention, this site offers resources, research, and tools for parents, educators, and students on how to handle cyberbullying.
- Family Online Safety Institute: FOSI provides resources and research on creating a safer online environment for children, including expert advice on digital safety, social media usage, and tools for parents to monitor and protect their kids’ digital lives. They focus on fostering healthy online behaviors while keeping children safe from online dangers.
- Internet Safety 101: Offers resources to help families, schools, and organizations understand and teach internet safety, including tips on social media, cyberbullying, privacy, and screen time.
- Stop Bullying.gov: A resource from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, StopBullying.gov focuses on preventing bullying, including cyberbullying. It provides information for parents, teachers, and youth on how to recognize bullying, respond effectively, and prevent it online and in person.
