Unsurprisingly, digital devices are set to be a pretty common feature on most kids’ wish lists this Christmas. As parents though, there are many concerns to be had before making this kind of purchase, be it a new phone, a first phone, a smartwatch, a tablet, a laptop – the list goes on.

Many parents will share the same sorts of reservations: How can I protect my child while they are online? Does my child understand phone etiquette? Are they even old enough for a digital device? 

Here are a few tips to help you with gifting digital devices this Christmas:

## Communication

Before you even give your kid their new phone (or other connected devices) – make sure you’ve sat down and had a conversation with them about how to stay safe online. Some topics you may want to include are:

 ☑️ Online shopping

 ☑️ Cyberbullying

 ☑️ Opening emails from unknown sources

 ☑️ Posting on social media

 ☑️ Protecting personal information 

## Parental Control Apps

Parental control apps such as FamilyKeeper can provide much-needed peace of mind, especially if this is your child’s first device, or their first venture onto social media. Setting up a parental control app on your child’s device before you present them with their gift is one approach. However, open dialogue between parents and children is paramount, so make sure to tell your child why you’ve installed the application. 

With parental controls, you can set healthy screen time limits, block inappropriate websites, and get notifications of any incendiary keywords. You can utilize location tracking to check that your child is in a safe place, and a battery tracker to make sure their device always has enough power to contact you if they need to.

## Reaching Out

They say it takes a village to raise a child – well, when it comes to your kids and technology, getting advice from other people in your community is a pretty good idea. It’s useful to see how other parents handle conversations about online safety – especially when these conversations vary so much, depending on the age of the child in question. Other parents can also offer advice such as:

☑️ At what age they gave their child their first device

☑️ Which type of phone they would recommend for kids

☑️ What other types of online devices may be appropriate for kids

Also, if you aren’t already on the same wavelength as your child, it’s worth reaching out to friends and family members to teach you about some of the most popular sites, so that you can check out what types of content your child may be viewing. You may be a Facebook and Pinterest pro, but if you have a kid who loves TikTok and Snapchat, knowing how to navigate these apps could be helpful.

Whatever decision you ended up making this Christmas, online safety is paramount. It’s amazing that there’s so much of the world now at our fingertips – but there are dangers out there. Forewarned is forearmed: so make sure you enjoy the festivities while keeping you and your family safe.

**Now is also the time to take advantage of our FamilyKeeper Christmas promotion with 50% off all plans! **

For more information, visit our website or [download the Android app here](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.familykeeper.parents).

Here are a few tips to help you with gifting digital devices this Christmas.

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New Phone for Christmas? Here’s How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

In a world where we can order whatever we want at the click of a button, adults and children alike adore the instant gratification aspect of the Internet.

With Cyber Monday looming, and ads galore headed our way, we know that we can be easily enticed with an ‘Amazing!’ or ‘Fantastic!’ offer.

However, it’s not just internet ads that can catch our eye – in-app purchases are also something to be wary of. With in-app purchases, it is all too easy to rack up the credit card bill by paying for added extras – whether it’s accidentally or on purpose.

As all parents will know – once a kid gets their hands on a device and starts playing games or music, they’re pretty susceptible to targeted ads. Additionally, it may not be obvious to a child when they are being charged for something they’ve clicked on.

## Did you know that there are three types of in-app purchases?

**Subscriptions:** You pay to access content from an app or service for a fixed period of time e.g. weekly, monthly, yearly, quarterly.

**Consumable purchases:** The one that really appeals to kids! For instance, bonus coins, gems, or characters in certain games.

**Non-consumable purchases:** For example, access to certain game levels, or ad removers.

## So what can you do to keep a check on in-app purchases?

✅ Permissions: Keep the lines of communication open so your kids will check with you first before paying for something online. It’s all too easy for kids to make in-app purchases by accident these days – especially if they know your credentials! – so having these conversations beforehand should help with your child’s understanding of how to avoid paying for something by mistake. 

✅ Check access: Using a parental control app or adjusting settings on a device to block in-app purchases is the first step in managing these types of purchases.

✅ Limit screen time: Similarly, using a parental control app can help you limit screen time so your child is in less danger of overspending! You can also see what sites they’ve been visiting to make sure they’re safe, child-friendly, and inoffensive.

✅ Subscriptions dates: It may well be that you’ve agreed to make an in-app purchase, for a fixed period of time – but some subscriptions renew automatically, even though you no longer wish to pay for it. Keep track of subscription dates by adding a reminder to your or your child’s device so that you remember to cancel subscriptions before the next payment is due.

✅ Choose wisely: Some apps may be slightly more expensive but don’t include in-app purchases. For little kids especially, these may be a safer option – you might pay more initially, but you don’t run the risk of any surprise charges later on!

✅ Avoid scams: Young people shopping online are often told that additional purchases or subscriptions are required in order to complete a purchase. This trick is particularly common for sites that offer music downloads. To avoid these types of scams, teach your child to comparison shop on other sites – this will help them to be savvier when using apps.

It’s wonderful to live in an age where we can make purchases at the click of a button – but it’s important not to get carried away. This Cyber Monday, make sure you adopt safe practices so that you and your loved ones can enjoy using their favorite apps with peace of mind. 

With in-app purchases, it is all too easy to rack up the credit card bill by paying for added extras – whether it’s accidentally or on purpose.

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Kids vs. In-App Purchases: 6 Tips to Prevent a Surprise Hefty Bill!

In the wake of World Bullying Prevention Month, cyberbullying awareness has impacted even more on the international consciousness. With the number of young people engaging in social media constantly increasing, it is important to teach the younger generation, as well as their parents and teachers, how to approach cyberbullying properly.

Part of the problem when discussing cyberbullying with youngsters is that it may be difficult to define – for some, the lines between what is acceptable and what isn’t can become blurred. We need to be extremely conscious of what we post online or send in instant messaging – especially when it can often be difficult to read between the lines, and intonation and inflection can be misinterpreted.

The United States official anti-bullying website [defines](https://www.stopbullying.gov/) cyberbullying as:

‘… bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation.’ 

Additionally, although many people may be unaware of this, cyberbullying also has the potential to cross the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

When discussing cyberbullying with your children, it’s hugely important to keep the lines of communication open. The more confident youngsters feel in discussing their online activity, the more autonomy it will give them in terms of pushing back against cyberbullies.

Last fortnight, at the the World Anti-Bullying Forum held in Stockholm, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant revealed that in Australia, research showed that 64% of young people who have experienced negative online behavior are taking proactive measures to block or unfriend people who had bullied them online – a significant increase from 46% of young people in 2017.

Teaching students to have the wherewithal to be able to block, unfriend or report cyberbullying behavior is a good first step for youngsters to be able to safely navigate social media, and to feel more empowered in their online experiences.

Using a parental control app such as FamilyKeeper can help both kids and parents to become aware of what is happening in their child’s social media career. Parents and children can discuss together: What is inappropriate content? Which words are offensive? Which sites should be avoided? Which apps can we block? Is this user or contact having a negative effect on me?

Thankfully, recent cyberbullying campaigns seem to be paying off, with many countries joining in the international war to combat this form of abuse. On November 4th, Morocco, France, Mexico and UNESCO signed a new declaration to address school bullying and cyberbullying, the “Campeche Declaration against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying”, which aims to eradicate bullying from educational institutions by 2027.

## What part can I play?

☑️ Downloading and using a parental control app, such as FamilyKeeper, is the first step in keeping your family safe from cyberbullying.

☑️ FamilyKeeper alerts parents when suspicious behaviour occurs, aiding in cyberbullying prevention.

☑️ Setting parameters: FamilyKeeper allows you to decide which social media apps or online sites can be accessed from your child’s device.

☑️ Setting a digital schedule: Don’t let digital devices overrun your family life – setting a schedule can help ensure children still have time for after-school activities, homework and quality time with family, helping to limit the opportunity for cyberbullying activity to occur.

Thursday, November 1st was UNICEF’s International Day Against Violence and Bullying. Their Celebrity Advocate, the influential Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurana, has been praised by the parenting community for his active call to condemn all forms of bullying:

‘As parents, teachers and family members, it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that all children are aware of how to stay safe online, to create a safe space where children who experience online violence do not hesitate to seek help. Together, let us make the internet a safer place.’

One can only wholeheartedly agree with this goal, and share in this vision.

When discussing cyberbullying with your children, it’s hugely important to keep the lines of communication open. The more confident youngsters feel in discussing their online activity, the more autonomy it will give them in terms of pushing back against cyberbullies.

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How to Help Your Kids Prevent Cyberbullying

We’ve all been there before. The kids are screaming and fighting, the laundry has piled up and is the size of a small mountain and it’s already 2PM. And the kids haven’t even had breakfast. At times like this, tablets and smartphones seem like a godsend. Give the kids a screen to stare into and you’ve just bought yourself the quiet you need to get things moving.

Sounds good, right? Well, not exactly. Everything comes with a price, and in many cases too much screen time can definitely be a recipe for disaster. Specifically, we’re speaking about screen addiction. While you may have earned a few hours of not having to deal with the kids, too much screen time can lead to dangerous, compulsive behaviors that have a negative effect on your kids’ well-being.

Screen addiction is defined as “compulsive screen use that leads to impaired daily function in productivity, social relationships, physical health or emotional well-being” (Horwood & Anglin, 2018). This means that too much screen time is harming your kids’ schoolwork, negatively impacting social relationships, interfering with sleep and causing unhappiness. It’s not your kids’ fault — the chemicals in our brains can be too much for even adults to deal with.

So how do you know if your kids are addicted to their screens? There are 3 main indicators of addiction that you should watch out for:

Cravings. We all know what cravings feel like. A constant reminder from your brain that you are in need of something. In the best case it’s chocolate, but in worse cases it can ruin your life. Cravings are hard to resist, but are easy to identify. You’ll notice that your child has a craving for the smartphone screen when they become preoccupied with spending time on their phone. They’ll constantly ask for permission, even if it’s at the expense of activities that they usually enjoy.

Tolerance. Like any other addiction, your child will build up a tolerance for screens as they become more and more addicted. This means that if they were once happy with half an hour of YouTube, they’ll suddenly need more time in front of the screen to satisfy their craving.

Withdrawal. If your kids suddenly become angry, irritable or depressed when you take the screen away from them, they’re probably experiencing withdrawal. The best way to confirm this suspicion is to give them back the device. If the feelings they’d just been experiencing instantly disappear once they’ve got a screen in front of them, you can be pretty sure that they were going through withdrawal.

FamilyKeeper offers parents technology to help them combat screen addiction. Alongside the powerful parental control features that alert you to problematic online behavior, FamilyKeeper also offers solutions for controlling the amount of time your kids spend in front of their screens.

**Awareness.** FamilyKeeper provides you with highly detailed, real-time reports about what your kids are doing on their devices. These reports show you how many hours a day they are staring into their screens. By understanding how long your kids are on their devices each day, you’ll be able to establish a healthy limit that’s right for the whole family. 

**Set up limits.** Use FamilyKeeper to limit screen time. You can choose when it’s okay for them to use their phones — probably not best during school hours — and even set up a daily limit. Once you have healthy limits in place, you can rest assured that your kids aren’t abusing their devices.

FamilyKeeper helps you become a better digital parent by giving you tech-powered tools that keep your kids safe when they’re online. Advanced monitoring across social media apps and messaging platforms alerts you to any problematic behavior from strangers or friends, while in-depth reports and usage tools help you establish a safe digital environment for your children.  

The three main indicators of Screen Addiction that you should watch out for

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The Dangers of Screen Addiction

We’re sure that by now you’re all aware of at least some of the digital dangers that await your kids on their smartphones, tablets and computers. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here reading this post. Regardless of what you know (or don’t) about cyberthreats, we felt it was worth taking the time to dive into one specific cyberthreat. Cyberbullying.

[Cyberbullying](https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it) is a type of bullying that happens over digital devices like smartphones, computers and tablets. It can take place over any medium through which content is shared including SMS, messaging apps, IMs, social media and even in multiplayer games. Boiled down to its essence, cyberbullying can be defined as the sharing or sending of negative, harmful, false or mean content about someone else. The sharing of personal or private information about someone without prior consent is also considered a widespread form of cyberbullying. 

Here’s some fresh [stats](https://cyberbullying.org/2019-cyberbullying-data) about cyberbullying to help you understand just how prevalent and common it has become today.

Yes, cyberbullying is a problem that your kids will most likely encounter at some point in their lives. Parental control apps like FamilyKeeper help protect your kids by alerting you to any problematic language or behavior across different social media apps and platforms. But that’s not enough. The better you prepare your kids for appropriate, safe digital behavior, the more secure they will be while on their devices. 

Cyberbullying comes in many shapes and forms. The more you know about the different tactics, the better you will be equipped to deal with them. From nude photo sharing, spreading lies and false accusations, to creating fake profiles to solicit information, and encouraging self-harm or suicide, the list is long.

Like any other problematic behavior, there are ways to pick up on whether your child is being cyberbullied, or is cyberbullying others. For example, increased (or decreased) usage of devices and strong emotional responses to what is happening on their device are warning signs. Other signs to watch out for include a child hiding their device or refusing to discuss what they’re doing on it, along with depression or withdrawal from social activities.

Along with using FamilyKeeper, a great way to protect your kids from cyberbullying is to establish rules and talk about what you consider to be appropriate types of content and digital behavior. By creating an open, honest dialog with your kids you can convey your values and expectations. Discuss the importance of maintaining a good online reputation and educate about the harmful effects of cyberbullying. Be very clear about the type of content you think your kids should be sharing or seeing. Set up limitations on usage and screen time and always set an example of displaying positive, respectful behavior when using your own digital devices. 

Another way to prevent negative digital experiences is to teach your kids appropriate actions to take if they’re witnessing cyberbullying. Teach them that they should never share or “like” hurtful texts or other forms of cyberbullying and should consider responding privately to the person doing it. Consider reaching out to the targeted child to publicly show that cyberbullying is negative behavior that isn’t supported by the majority.

FamilyKeeper is a leading parental control app that gives you tools to prevent cyberbullying and other digital dangers. Advanced monitoring across social media apps and messaging platforms alert you to any dangerous or suspicious behaviors.

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens over digital devices like smartphones, computers and tablets.

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Cyberbullying - What You Need To Know

Modern day parents have a lot on their plate, and that’s putting it lightly. With the coronavirus raging around the world, schools and preschools have been canceled. Kids are at home — and there’s no going outside or having friends over. For most parents, leaving the house is not an option and neither is bringing in a babysitter to help to take care of them.

If that wasn’t enough, many parents are also expected to get their job done from home. This means that parents aren’t just handling endless day-to-day chores like cleaning the house, cooking and taking care of their kids. They are also trying to take part in online meetings and finish up their tasks so that their employers will continue paying their salaries and they can pay their bills.

As long as this is our reality, it’s natural that parents are increasingly allowing kids to zone out in front of screens for hours at a time. And the internet doesn’t disappoint. There is a never-ending amount of content that kids are more than happy to consume for as long as you’ll let them. 

How else will you ever get any work done?

With more than 2 billion users logging into YouTube each month, it’s safe to say that it’s the world’s leading video platform. Seemingly endless amounts of free, popular shows and movies that appeal to small children are available for consumption. From “Peppa Pig” to “Paw Patrol” and “Frozen”, there’s definitely something for everyone to be found.

But YouTube isn’t all fun and games. Immoral businesses can easily get their ads in front of your kids. This can lead to unwanted in-app purchases if you’re not careful. What’s more, endless hours of content can lead to screen addiction and abuse and age inappropriate content is readily available.

FamilyKeeper gives you tools to control and monitor your kids’ online behavior to make sure that they’re protected. By connecting your child’s YouTube account to the FamilyKeeper app, you can monitor what they watch and limit the amount of time they’re watching. FamilyKeeper instantly notifies you about any in-app purchases your kids make, so that you can put an end to that behavior before it gets out of control. You can also block or limit their use of YouTube so that you stay in control of how long your kids watch it and prevent overuse.

## The Problem with YouTube

YouTube’s autoplay feature plays a big part in keeping kids happily engrossed in the content for hours at a time. The way it’s supposed to work is that you choose a video and when it ends, a similar video automatically starts.  In theory, these videos should highly resemble the one you already chose. The reality unfortunately, is quite different.

The autoplay feature is used by digitally savvy online marketers to hack the YouTube algorithm that determines which video to present. Instead of showing your kids videos that are like the one you chose, these videos are actually highly appealing advertisements for merchandise and other swag. These ads present toys and dolls related to the characters appearing in the videos. In many cases, links to purchase this merchandise are easily accessible from the video itself.

But the dangers of autoplay don’t end there.  Once autoplay gets started you have no idea what it will show. If you’re not careful, the autoplay feature dishes up age inappropriate videos that have no connection with the content that you initially started off with and are definitely not suitable for small children. 

YouTube doesn’t disappoint when it comes to kids who have grown out of cartoons either. Older kids watch videos of famous gamers playing popular video games like Minecraft and Fortnite. This phenomenon has sprouted online celebrities who boast tens of millions of subscribers and make millions of dollars a year from the ads on their videos. These ads promote in-app purchases and premium, costly games in a way that’s hard for even an adult to resist. 

With kids exposed to these ads for hours at a time, and the purchase just a couple of taps away, it’s no wonder that many of them try to purchase the products presented there.

FamilyKeeper is a parental control app that helps you control the way your kids use their smartphones. Monitor text messages, apps and social media networks to make sure that your kids are protected and are using their smartphones in a safe way. When times are tough and finding someone to take care of your kids is impossible, FamilyKeeper has your back by making sure your kids are protected.

The current dangers of overexposure to YouTube.

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The Dangers of YouTube

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](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2019) 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](https://familykeeper.reasonlabs.com/contact/) if you have any difficulties setting it up.

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