Mums and dads are clueless about how to ensure their children’s tech presents are safe for them, new research has revealed.
According to the study, eight in 10 parents are worried about their children’s unrestricted access to the Internet.
But almost half of them (44%) don’t understand how to add parental setting controls on devices they bought for Christmas.
To help out, the Find the Right Words campaign by Virgin Media O2 and Internet Matters has put together some steps that parents can take to make their children’s devices safer.
The six steps are as follows:
1. Install operating system parental controls and screentime limits
Parental controls can be set up across operating systems, including iOS, Android and Windows 11.
These include limits on how long children can be online, approval of app downloads and restricting inappropriate sites.
You can set daily screen time limits for overall device usage and specific apps through Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link.
2. Social media and video streaming settings
Social media platforms have privacy settings, which can help parents limit who can contact their children and view their content.
SafeSearch can filter out explicit content on popular search engines.
YouTube also has a restricted mode, which can hide potentially mature videos.
3. Gaming and entertainment controls
Use the built-in parental controls on gaming consoles to set playtime limits and restrict online interactions.
Parental controls can also be added to streaming sites to restrict access to age-inappropriate content.
4. Filter and monitor content
Age-appropriate filters can block content on streaming services, app stores, and web browsers that is unsuitable for children’s age.
You can also regularly review activity reports from tools like Google Family Link and Windows Family Safety to monitor your child’s online behaviour.
5. Report inappropriate content and get support
Ensure your child knows how to report inappropriate content or behaviour on various platforms and other tools such as blocking, muting, and restricting. Many social media and gaming platforms have these tools built in.
Familiarise yourself with resources like Childline and CEOP for additional support and guidance on dealing with serious online issues.
6. Regularly review and update settings
Reviewing and updating parental control settings as your child grows and their online activities change is important.
Keep updated with the latest online trends and potential risks to ensure your protective measures remain effective.
Parents and guardians can also get support on talking to kids about internet safety at the Find the Right Words website and get more online safety advice here.
Virgin Media O2 spokesperson Nicola Green said: “We know adding parental settings on new devices can feel daunting, especially if you’re not familiar with the tech.
“That’s why our Find the Right Words guide is packed with practical tips and advice to give parents and guardians the know-how they need to set up their kids’ new devices with confidence so they can enjoy them and stay safe online at Christmas and beyond.”