There’s no getting around it. Sooner or later, your kids are going to ask for a smartphone. They might even already have one. As they should. Today, smartphones are an essential part of our lives. We use them for socializing, to pass the time, as well as tools to support our work and our studies. We’d even go so far to say that in many places, kids who don’t have access to a smartphone are at a big disadvantage.
In fact, the latest research shows that smartphone ownership among children is quickly growing. In the US alone, more than half of children already own a smartphone by the age of 11. That number goes up to 84% when looking solely at teenagers.
This means that in our smartphone-driven world, the question isn’t whether to buy or not to buy your kids a smartphone, but whether or not you’ve properly prepared them to be smart, safe and responsible while they’re using it. Unfortunately, just like in the real world, there are dangers in the digital world. Cyberthreats like online predators, cyberbullying, inappropriate usage and screen addiction are all real problems that cannot be ignored.
So how can you balance your kids’ need for technology with your need to protect them? It’s not like anyone ever taught us how to use the internet or our smartphones. Well, like many other issues in the modern world, preventative measures that reduce the risk are a great place to start.
When you think about it, smartphones are just another tool that your kids need to learn how to navigate on their road to independence. As a responsible parent, it’s up to you to teach them how to correctly use this tool, without exposing themselves to dangers.
It’s our responsibility to equip our kids with protective gear that keeps them safe until they learn how to properly use smartphones on their own. This protective gear gives you the ability to allow your kids to use their smartphones, while ensuring that they are protected while doing so. It’s the ultimate compromise. Kids get the freedom to use their smartphones, while you, the parents, can rest assured that they are protected as they learn the right way to do this.
Just like we give them helmets before they start riding their bikes and seat belts when they start driving, we should use apps like FamilyKeepers when they get their first smartphones. The same way that we sit in the passenger seat and closely watch our children’s first attempts to drive, we should monitor the way they use their smartphones.
FamilyKeeper is an advanced smartphone app for Android and iOS that uses the latest technology to protect your children from cyberthreats and to monitor their usage to ensure that they are using their smartphones for the things you want them to.
Monitor — Get real-time alerts about any problematic behavior and inappropriate usage. Quickly understand if your kids are at danger from cyber predators or cyberbullies. Easily take in how your kids are using their smartphone by accessing in-depth analytics.
Set rules — Establish guidelines about proper smartphone usage. Use FamilyKeepers to establish rules and regulations about which apps they can use and about when and for how long they can use their smartphones during the day. Set up usage limits, block specific websites and apps and turn off internet access during school hours.
Use FamilyKeeper to give your kids the protection they need to safely use their smartphones.
Remember, to work correctly FamilyKeeper should be installed on your childrens’ devices and your own. Contact us if you have any difficulties setting it up.
