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Alternative browser - high privacy

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DuckDuckGo - Protection. Privacy. Peace of mind.

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The Internet privacy company that empowers you to seamlessly take control of your personal information online, without any tradeoffs.

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Common Sense Media editors help you choose Apps That Inspire Kids to Play Outside. Who says apps and outdoor adventures don't mix?

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Using Chrome tools to protect your browsing

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Using Chrome tools to protect your browsing

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Google's Chrome is, by most measures, the most popular browser in use. That being said, it also has a perception problem as far as security is concerned, causing privacy-concerned users to shake the Chrome habit. If you don't have any intention of moving away from Chrome anytime soon, here are some tips to help you maximize your privacy.

Chrome has tools for blocking first-party cookies (which are used to store your preferences for a particular site) as well as third-party tracking cookies (which follow your online activity across sites). Some of these tools need to be enabled manually, and we've included instructions on how to do that, along with steps on how to delete cookies already stored by your browser. We also address how Google plans to prevent fingerprinting - a form of tracking that uses data about your system configuration to identify you.

There are also plenty of extensions available in the Chrome Web Store if you'd like to protect your privacy beyond Chrome's built-in tools.

Deal with trackers

Version 79 of Chrome, which came out last December, concentrated mostly on enhancing password security. In Chrome 80, which began rolling out on February 4th, Google is gradually implementing a new system for sorting and blocking cookies. It will allow all first-party cookies, but third-party cookies will have to include a specific same-site setting that ensures they are being accessed from secure connections. (You can update to the Chrome 80 manually by going to Help -> About Google Chrome. However, be aware that this feature may take a while to be fully implemented.)

Google is gradually implementing a new system for sorting and blocking cookies

Google also says that Chrome will phase out third-party cookies in two years in favor of an alternative system to cookies using new technologies Google is developing.

Adjust your tracking settings

Meanwhile, you can still manually block cookies in Chrome:

Go to "Settings" (by clicking the three dots in the upper-right corner next to the URL bar). Scroll down and click on "Advanced" at the bottom of the screen or in the menu bar on the left.

Find the "Privacy and security" section, and then click on "Site settings" -> "Cookies and site data."

To block only third-party cookies, toggle "Block third-party cookies" on. To block all cookies, toggle the "Allow sites to save and read cookie data" to off.

Once you've blocked third-party cookies in your settings, a cookie icon will pop up on the right side of your address bar when Chrome is blocking cookies. You can click on that icon to see what cookies are allowed and blocked by each site and choose to block or allow individual cookies. Here's how:

Click on the icon, and a small window will open

You can, at this point, allow cookies from this site or continue to block cookies. Click on "Done" to save your settings.

To view which cookies are being blocked, click "Show cookies and other site data" at the bottom of that window. You can toggle between seeing the "Allowed" and "Blocked" cookies.

Click on the site name; you'll see either "Block" or "Allow" at the bottom of the window, allowing you to block or permit cookies from that site. If you click on the arrows next to the site names, you can see the individual cookies and can block or allow them as well.

When you click on an individual cookie's name, you'll also see its domain, when it was created, and when it expires.

Clean up your cookies

Chrome does allow you to automatically clear out your cookies and other data when you exit the browser.

Go to the "Cookies and site data" page as described above

Toggle on "Clear cookies and site data when you quit Chrome"

Want to see a list of all the cookies currently stored by your browser?

In the "Cookies and site data" page, click on "See all cookies and site data." You can delete cookies by site by clicking on the trash icon next to each site name, or you can delete them all by clicking "Remove all."

If you click on the site name, you'll be able to see the individual cookies left by that site. Click on the arrow for more information about the cookie, and click on the "X" to delete it.

If you want to clear a range of your data from the browser:

Go to "Settings" -> "Privacy and Security" -> "Clear browsing data"

A window will open up with two viewing options: "Basic" and "Advanced." The former allows you to clear out your cookies, browsing history and caches; the latter gives you the chance to delete all of those items along with other types of data, such as your download history, passwords, and autofill form data.

At the top of the box, select an option from the drop-down menu next to "Time range." You can clear anything from the last hour's worth to all of the data that's been collected.

In either view, make sure the categories of data you want to delete are selected, and then click "Clear data"

Fingerprinting and ad-blocking

Google has proposed a number of fingerprinting protections, which it says it plans to implement later this year. Among the proposed steps is a strategy, which involves restricting the number of requests that can be made for user information so as not to allow for the collection of enough data to identify individual users.

Chrome, by default, does filter out some ads using the rules set by the Coalition for Better Ads and EasyList, but you can always download ad-blocking extensions to increase your protection.
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see

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How to use Chrome's tools to protect your privacy while browsing

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Google's Chrome is, by most measures, the most popular browser in use. That being said, it also has a perception problem as far as security is concerned, causing privacy-concerned users to shake the Chrome habit. If you don't have any intention of moving away from Chrome anytime soon, here are some tips to help you maximize your privacy.

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What's the right age to give a child a phone? A psychologist gives his opinion here:

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What's the right age to give a child a phone? A psychologist gives his opinion here:

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Child psychologist and digital education activist Marc Masip thinks so, and it's older than you might think.

"At what age should I give my child their first mobile phone?" It's one of the most common questions I get and it is hard to pin down an age for it. It depends a lot on the child and the child's digital resilience⁠-how ready they are to take on the responsibility of having access to the world. How aware they are of the permanence of their posts, of the risks of talking to strangers, of the abundance of fake or harmful content. Let's not forget it also depends on the parents' ability to help monitor and make sure their child is using the phone in the right way.

I am alarmed by the number of really young children who have mobile phones. The average age a child gets their first phone in the UK is 10.3. 40% of parents in the U.S. give their children a phone by age 10. 25% of 10-year-olds are using them in Spain, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute. In France, the average age for the first mobile is 11, and 12% of French teenagers polled by Statista said they received their first phone before they were 11 years old.

This all sounds very young and hard to believe, but just a quick stroll around the street or park will tell you that the data is real. And I see it in my practice too. Young adults who started using a mobile phone at a younger age tend to become more dependent on their phones and are more likely to feel stressed without them, also known as nomophobia. And one of the main issues where I have to act as a mediator for families is an argument over screen time. Not so long ago, a young patient told me, "Marc, you have to understand, if we didn't have rules about phones in school and at home, we would use them all day long. I think it's normal". What a worrying thought. When did being connected non-stop become normal?

Young adults who started using a mobile phone at a younger age tend to become more dependent on their phones and are more likely to feel stressed without them.

It's this normalization of addiction to screens and not being mature enough to handle the ugly side of the internet that is so harmful to kids. And, it is why I recommend waiting until your child turns age 16 to give them their first mobile phone. To be clear, I am talking about smartphones, phones with access to the internet. "Dumb" phones, just for calls and SMS, can be given at an earlier age.

...I recommend waiting until your child turns age 16 to give them their first mobile phone.

I know 16 sounds extreme to many parents. Impossible! Unrealistic! But I remain firm. Children's brains are not even close to mature enough yet to use such powerful devices. And they don't have enough life experience to know how to deal with the dangers or to avoid doing something wrong.

Most importantly, no child needs a smartphone. When I tell parents that, they say, "My kid won't have any friends if they don't have a phone". That's a lie. Kids who don't get smartphones until they are ready have much better relationships with their peers and with adults. In fact, they suffer more from social exclusion than from being unable to communicate with others.

Kids who don't get smartphones until they are ready have much better relationships with their peers and with adults. In fact, they suffer more from social exclusion than from being unable to communicate with others.

Another argument I hear is: "They have the phone in case something happens to them." I don't understand what a phone is meant to do in the unfortunate event that something happens to a child. If an emergency arises and it's possible to phone, a regular phone would be enough. If it's something really serious, a mobile phone is the first thing that would be affected in the accident.

And the most common argument stems from the almost universal belief that my child doesn't have a problem. How many times have I heard a parent say, "They're not hooked. They only use it when I let them". Limits can't just be set. They need to be reinforced to work. Of course, you don't want your kids to only do things right because there is a rule, but it is an extremely helpful way to help set up healthy habits that last a lifetime.

When the moment comes to give your child their first phone, I recommend signing a digital contract. It sounds formal and kind of silly at first. But I promise it is a fantastic idea. It's useful and it works. There is plenty of psychological and sociological research that the ritual of signing something makes people take an agreement more seriously or act more honestly, referred to as the signature effect (Anker and Crowley 1981; Rogers et al. 1988; Staw 1974; Stevens et al. 2002; Ureda 1980; Williams et al. 2005). The rules of the contract are clear: if they don't use the phone correctly, they might not be ready for such a powerful tool.

The contract can include rewards and punishments but a reward should never be more time on the device. Instead, rewards should be tied to the real world, and the punishments to the tech world. Remember it's important to stick to the plan you agreed on and not use the phone as a bargaining tool.

Think about it, many of the leaders and creators of the technology don't let their children have devices connected to the internet until they are 14. And 16 is a common age for many rights of passage. In the U.S. it's when a teen can legally drive. Americans have decided it's an age when someone is mentally responsible and physically able to handle the complexities of a car. The point here is that there is no society that would give a 10 or 11 year old the keys to a car. The internet is just as dangerous. It too can kill as we have seen in the increase in suicides among young people, many provoked by bullying or harmful messages or concepts on the internet.

The internet is just as dangerous. It too can kill as we have seen in the increase in suicides among young people, many provoked by bullying or harmful messages or concepts on the internet.
Whatever the age, a parent needs to take these 4 points into account:

1. Are you prepared to monitor your child's phone use, both by installing a parental control software and by simply sitting down with your child to see what they are watching and talking about it together?

2. Have you taken the time to teach your child how to use technology correctly? Technological education is in a league of its own: it doesn't matter if our kid is the best student, athlete or person, we have to educate and guide them.

3. Have you taught them how to continue to be human on the internet (being behind the screen creates a feeling of anonymity that can lead to bad behavior)?

4. Have you taught them how to deal with mistakes? It's so easy to fall into a cyber predator or online groomer's trap. Does your child know how to deal with this openly and not hide it or feel ashamed?

When your answers to all of these questions is 'yes' and when your child is mentally mature, has received a technical education and has built up their digital resilience, then you can give them their first smartphone. Take it seriously. Set limits and sign a contract. Monitor their use together, and don't be afraid to 'take away the keys' if necessary. Their mental health, security and happiness depend on it.

More great online safety and digital wellbeing articles from Qustodio:

Marc Masip is a psychologist, author, and frequent lecturer on digital addiction. He is also the director of the psychological Institute Desconect@, a pioneering program designed to make good use of new technologies without damaging our personal relationships, or creating dependencies or addictions.

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Is There a Right Age to Give Your Child Their First Phone?

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Child psychologist and digital education activist Marc Masip thinks so, and it's older than you might think. "At what age should I give my child their first mobile phone?" It's one of the most common questions I get and it is hard to pin down an age for it.

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A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media

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This document is also available as a PDF here

Social networking is hugely popular. Many young people are sophisticated in the way they use social media apps and websites, tailoring their communication for different audiences, and accessing them from a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and games consoles.

But social media, like all forms of public communication, comes with some risks. Not all of these risks turn into actual problems; and if children never face any risks, they never learn how to deal with them. By helping your child understand what the risks are, you can play a big part in preventing them from turning into problems.

1. Understand the risks children may need to deal with:

What they might see or do:

Seeing or sharing of violent, sexual and pornographic content

Inaccurate or false information and extreme views

Promotion of harmful behaviours including self-harm, anorexia and suicide

Over-sharing of personal information

Actively or unintentionally getting involved in bullying or hurtful behaviour

Who they might meet:

How this could affect them:

2. Practical tips to help minimise the risks your child might face

It's good practice for apps and websites to have safety advice and well-designed safety features which can make a real difference to how safe your child will be when using them. Work through safety and privacy features on the apps that your child is using, or might use. Make sure they understand the point of these and how to use them.

Don't be put off by believing your child knows more than you: the tools are actually quite easy to manage.

3. Keep talking and stay involved

In a mobile age, children can't be completely protected, even by the best privacy controls; another child may use different settings. So it's important to keep talking to your child about the implications of social media. Getting a sense of what they think is a useful place to start; you may be surprised by how much thought they may have given to the issues.

Encourage your child to think carefully about the way they, and others behave online, and how they might deal with difficult situations.

People may not always be who they say they are online: how can this create problems?

Why is it unwise to meet anyone in the real world that you've only ever met online?

Even if you think your messages are private, remember that words and images can always be captured and broadcast.

People present themselves differently online - do they really look like that? Are they always having that good a time?

Be aware that screens, and especially being anonymous, can lead people to say things they wouldn't say to someone's face.

What does being a good friend and a likeable person online look like?

There can be pressure to be part of a particular group online or to be seen to be following a certain set of ideas

How can you take a step back and make your own decisions?

4. For more information:

You can find out more about how children use social media, the apps they use, the risks they face, how to use privacy settings, and advice and tips about how to talk to your children at:

5. To make a report

Concerned about online grooming or sexual behaviour online?

Contact CEOP: www.ceop.police.uk

If you stumble across criminal sexual or obscene content on the internet you should report it to the Internet Watch Foundation: www.iwf.org.uk

This document is also available as a PDF here

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Child Safety Online: A practical guide for parents and carers whose children are using social media

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This document is also available as a PDF here Social networking is hugely popular. Many young people are sophisticated in the way they use social media apps and websites, tailoring their communication for different audiences, and accessing them from a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and games consoles.

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The NSPCC's website has lots of advice on how to talk to children about online harms:

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The NSPCC's website has lots of advice on how to talk to children about online harms:

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Campaigning for change

We fight to change laws to make society safer for children. Our Wild West Web campaign has pushed for new regulations through the Online Safety Bill to make sure websites, apps and games are safe for children to use. But the draft Bill doesn't go far enough to protect children.
Help us end the Wild West Web

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Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages - we have advice and guides to help you learn about staying safe online as a family.

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My participation in this campaign is sponsored with Google and Forward Influence Network . It's 100% my own opinion #ad #DigitalWellbeing
Unless you have been living under a rock, technology seems to be a priority in our society. And while there are a ton of great advances and reasons to have technology at our fingertips this technology has changed the way we all live. We are literally connected all day long, this includes browsing on social media, checking emails, playing games with friends, and helping the kids with homework. Again, none of these are bad things but I do think we all need to be more aware of how technology, even though we are connected, takes us away from family and in the moment experiences.

ABOUT GOOGLE'S DIGITAL WELLBEING MISSION

Google is here and is on a mission. Google is designing helpful products that bring positivity to people's lives by improving them. As technology becomes more and more a part of our day-to-day lives, we know that it can also distract us from the things that are most important to us in life.

Google has created Digital Wellbeing, this offers tools and resources to help us find and maintain balance with technology. Balance in life can be hard but these tools and resources are unbelievably helpful. Google has decided that they have a responsibility to help all of us technology users and lovers to find that balance!

Google's Digital Wellbeing helpful resources include a self-reflection quiz, a Family Conversation Guide, expert video content, and a series of tools. Having access to these tools and resources help me feel great about the choices I am making concerning my family and technology. We are able to begin to make and create healthy digital habits.

GOOGLE'S DIGITAL WELLBEING RESOURCES AND TOOLS

To start focusing on your family's digital wellbeing it is important to be ready for self-reflection. I know that every single person in our family has areas that we need to work on. One of the tools that I have loved to use is the self-reflection tool. This tool asks simple questions to see what your or your family member's relationship is with technology. Once you share your experience, the tool will suggest some tips and tools that could help you or your family member achieve a personal sense of Digital Wellbeing.

Once you use the self-reflection tool you can also take advantage of the videos that Google provides that include interviews with experts & everyday users to shed light on technology use. Included in these videos are actionable tips to help people develop a better balance with their digital devices.

How Your Family Can Improve Their Digital Wellbeing

So the tools and resources are here and available but how do we implement and being to improve our digital wellbeing?

Time To Unplug

We love traveling as a family but with every trip comes the possibility of needing to check in for work, school and use technology as a distraction during travel time. All of these things are valid but it is important to stop those habits to be in the moment with the people you love. This is a struggle for me when it comes to work - I really worry about missing that amazing opportunity or email but the fact is, when I am doing that, I am missing out on memories and moments with my family.

Tools like the email auto reply can make it easy to set it and forget it. This means while I am out enjoying my time, unplugged my emails are being managed. Stepping away from work is easier said than done but I know that with helpful tools and resources from Google I will be able to get into a better routine of being able to unplug which will also lead to my kids finding more moments of being unplugged.

Find A Balance - Set Rules

The key is finding that balance for the whole family. Look, honestly I have days that it is just easier to let the kids play on the tablets or computers but generally it is not something I want them doing for too much time during the day because I know how important their digital wellbeing is at this young age.

Google makes it easy to set some rules and boundaries with the App Timers tool. This tool allows you to set limits on the amount of time each child spend in certain apps. When the limit is close to being met, they will receive a friendly reminder. When the time limit runs out, the app is paused for the rest of the day. Love this option! To access and set up App Timers, go to the Dashboard and then click the hourglass next to the app you want to set a limit on. Simply select a daily time limit that's appropriate for your kiddo!

Say Goodbye To Distractions

I spend my day on technology basically all day. I don't know about you but my productivity goes WAY down when there are constant distractions...email being one of those. I am a freak when it comes to checking emails so I needed to find a tool that would help me stay focused and not always moving away from the task at hand to check those "dings" on my phone or computer.

Google offers a number of tools to help you decide how and when your devices will send you notifications. On Android, there is a Do Not Disturb option to limit all interruptions. It is also possible to set Do Not Disturb to come on automatically during certain times of the day. This is fantastic for me when I am trying to create set work hours while at home.

Other Tools We Love

While exploring your family's Digital Wellbeing make sure you check out other resources like Family Link, Wind Down and Gray Scale and Google Assistant. All family situations look different so these tools might work well in your situation or you might find different resource that assists you in finding and improving the digital wellbeing of your family and yourself.

What does technology look like currently in your family?

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My participation in this campaign is sponsored with Google and Forward Influence Network . It's 100% my own opinion #ad #DigitalWellbeing Unless you have been living under a rock, technology seems to be a priority in our society.

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Google's family link parental controls - how to set it up - a video

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Google's family link parental controls - how to set it up - a video

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Parental controls on Nintendo Switch - a video

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Parental controls on Nintendo Switch - a video

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Have you ever heard of 'gaming disorder'? Find out more from an Oxford University professor

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Have you ever heard of 'gaming disorder'? Find out more from an Oxford University professor

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Gaming addiction - based on a true story BBC

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Gaming addiction - based on a true story BBC

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How does Kieran become addicted? How does he get help? What does he do now? What would you do if your friend was like Kieran?

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Too much gaming? Kieran plays computer games every day after school. At first, so do his mates, but they get bored, leaving him alone. He spends more and more time playing games - trying to reach the top of the leader board. Being able to play against other people online only makes things worse.

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What happens to your child's brain when gaming? from Wall Street Journal

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What happens to your child's brain when gaming? from Wall Street Journal

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Is all screentime bad? Do you know how much time you spend on a screen? How can it make you feel if you spend too long playing a game or watching videos? How can we help ourselves limit the time?

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Parents: Tips on how to protect your kids when gaming

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Parents: Tips on how to protect your kids when gaming

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Parents: How to keep your kids safe when gaming

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Parents: How to keep your kids safe when gaming

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NSPCC

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How To Keep Your Kids Safe When Online Gaming | Parenting Online | NSPCC

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Online Gaming Safety - Cyber Safety Series

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What is gaming and what are some of the issues I might deal with?

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What is gaming and what are some of the issues I might deal with?

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Gaming involves playing 'video games' on a games console (such as a PlayStation 4, XBOX One or Nintendo Switch) a PC or mobile games on a smartphone or tablet.

Questions you may have:

What do age ratings and content descriptors actually mean? Open or Close

Most age ratings and content descriptors act as a guide to help you know what to expect from a game. Games with a higher age rating are more likely to contain bad language, violence or other adult content. In the UK it is against the law to sell games with the highest age ratings (PEGI 12, 16 and 18) to anyone younger than those respective ages but it is not illegal for you to play them. You can look at the PEGI website for more information on the age ratings and content descriptors.

What should I do if I experience bullying or harassment when playing video games? Open or Close

If someone is trying to offend, humiliate, threaten, harass or abuse you when playing a game online, then this is a form of bullying and is never your fault. (You can read more about bullying here.) 'Banter' can quickly turn into something more hurtful and many young people tell us that this can ruin their gaming experience. You shouldn't respond to the bully. If it has happened on a chat feature, take a picture of the hurtful comments and, if you are able to, report the harassment to the game's administrators. If someone is harassing you through your headphones, you can usually mute them. Make sure you also block that player and tell someone that you trust about what has happened. When you feel ready to, go back to playing the game that you love - a small few try to ruin gaming for people but there are plenty of other players who will play with you respectfully.

All my friends are playing a game, but I'm not sure it's for me. What can I do? Open or Close

It is a good idea to search for the game on the PEGI website, which will allow you to see its age rating and what kind of content it includes. To get more detailed information about what kind of content the game has, you could read product descriptions of the game on a shopping site or reviews of the game on review websites. You could also watch the game's trailers on streaming sites such as YouTube. It is always your choice whether to play a certain game or not and you should not feel pressured by others.

Top Tips

1. Balance gaming and 'screen time' with more physical activities away from the device so that it does not affect your studies, sleep, diet and health.

2. Be careful with what you share with other players and remember that not everyone will be who they say they are.

3. Report and block other players that try to bully or harass you when gaming online. Keep any evidence of the incident, and speak to someone you trust about what has happened.

4. Remember that many video games are designed to make money, so think carefully about any purchases and speak with a parent or carer about setting up spending limits.

5. If a game stops being enjoyable at any point, take a break, and return to it when you are ready.

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top tips and advice on gaming for 11-18 year olds.

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Gaming involves playing 'video games' on a games console (such as a PlayStation 4, XBOX One or Nintendo Switch) a PC or mobile games on a smartphone or tablet. Questions you may have: What do age ratings and content descriptors actually mean?

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Watch this short film (15m) about cyberbullying. Do you think they did the right thing? what would you have done differently?

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Watch this short film (15m) about cyberbullying. Do you think they did the right thing? what would you have done differently?

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Short film about cyber bullying and unexpected friendship | "Litterbugs" - by Peter Stanley-Ward

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Do you know what a digital footprint is?

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Do you know what a digital footprint is?

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Talent Show - Cyberbullying Prevention Commercial

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NetSafe Episode 4: Be Kind Online (Grades K-3)

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What should you do if you are upset or uncomfortable online? -Talk to an adult!

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What should you do if you are upset or uncomfortable online? -Talk to an adult!

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NetSafe Episode 3: Tell an Adult (Grades K-3)

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ONLINE SAFETY SONG (Be Safe Online) Lyric Video

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How is the boy feeling? What might have caused it? What can you do to stop other people feeling like this? What should he do?

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Back to school online safety campaign | Internet Matters

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What does your online house look like? Are you looking after it?

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What does your online house look like? Are you looking after it?

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Act eSafe is an engaging animation for 7 to 10 year olds which focuses on e-security and eSafety issues.

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Who Are Your Trusted Adults? (Primary Edition)

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Did you know you can STOP people from adding you to a WhatsApp group chat? 

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Did you know you can STOP people from adding you to a WhatsApp group chat? 

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Why not read a review? Is it age-appropriate? How 'safe' is it?

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Read age-appropriate app reviews for kids and parents written by our experts.

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Staying Safe with WhatsApp

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WhatsApp Help Center - Staying safe on WhatsApp

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Staying safe on WhatsApp - The safety and security of you and your messages matter to us. We want you to know about the tools and features we've designed to help you stay safe while using WhatsApp. We also provide some links to other resources that can help you generally stay safe online.

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YouTube App - parental controls and resources

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YouTube App - parental controls and resources

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Here are tools and resources to help you guide your kids' exploration of the digital world.

The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more. Outside of our app, there are resources to help you talk openly with your kid, so you can work with them to make smart decisions online and to develop healthy digital habits.

The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more. Outside of our app, there are resources to help you talk openly with your kid, so you can work with them to make smart decisions online and to develop healthy digital habits.

Family resources to develop healthy digital habits

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Parental Control Tools & Resources - YouTube Kids

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Here are tools and resources to help you guide your kids' exploration of the digital world. The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more.

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PDF version of slides from our presentation on Social Media and Your Child.

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PDF version of slides from our presentation on Social Media and Your Child.

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All links can be accessed from this file.

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Explained - What is TikTok?

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. The app is used by young people as an outlet to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy, and lip-syncing, and allows users to create videos and share them across a community.

Are There Any Age Restrictions?

TikTok has a minimum user age of 13 years-old.

In Ireland the Digital Age of Consent has been set at 16 years-old. For children under that age consent must be given by the parent or guardian of the child.

How to Create an Account?

Users can either sign up using their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or email account.

Why Do Teens Like it?

TikTok is a fun app that allows teens to create and share videos with their friends.

Since the early days of social media (in particular on YouTube,) lip-syncing videos have proved a popular form of user-generated content among teens. The popularity of TV shows such as Lip Sync Battle has also helped drive interest in this type of platform.

Teens also enjoy competing in the different challenges which can be entered via the trending hashtags on the app. The app has a very dedicated, young community of users. For many of these users, gaining likes, followers and getting their videos featured on the app are important priorities. Creating and sharing their own content is now a big part of how teens spend their time online. Teens are moving away from being spectators online to becoming content creators. This app can be a really creative way, fun way for teens to express themselves and create their own social content.

How Does it Work?
Like most other apps and social networks, users can follow other users, like and comment on other user's videos. Teens can send emjois to their favourite singer on TikTok.
Users can select the song they wish to use in their video first, then record themselves miming along to the music. Alternatively, users can record their video first and then select a song. The app has lots of ways to add more fun to user's videos, for example, there are options to shoot in slow-mo, time lapse, fast forward, filters, effects or even play the song backward etc. Once users are happy with their video, they can post it to their followers and share it on other social networks for example; Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram etc. There is also a duet feature which allows you to connect with another user and lipsync together.

The search tool allows users to view other videos. Users can also view content under the trending hashtags and submit videos using these hashtags (similar to how Instagram works). The hashtags are also used to submit videos for challenges - for example; #Lipsncychallenge, #Comedychallenge, etc.

Can I Have a Private Account on TikTok?

TikTok accounts are public by default for users over the age of 15. Consider setting your account to private/friends only. Go to your profile using the head icon in the lower left corner and tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner. Select "Privacy and Settings" and click on "Privacy". Here you can secure your account by making your account private. See image above. With a private account only approved users can see your videos, however, your profile remains public.
TikTok Privacy Settings Update 2021
In 2021, TikTok updated the app's default privacy settings which includes setting the accounts of users aged 13-15 to private by default, restricting the comments on posts of users in this age range to 'friends' or 'no one', disabling the download video feature for users under the age of 16, restricting direct messaging and hosting live streams to accounts 16 and over, and restricting the buying, sending, and receiving of virtual gifts to users below 18. Read more about the updates here.

Can I Block a User?

To block a user, go to their profile, press on the "..." in the upper right corner, and select "block this user." You can unblock a user on the same menu.

Users can report comments, videos, chats, or other accounts.

Users can also flag inappropriate content. To report a TikTok press on the button with three dots and then click "report abuse."

What Are the Potential Risks?

Users may be exposed to bad language and content of a sexual nature. Users can comment on other videos, this leaves the potential for online bullying or negative comments. The app does appear to promote positive comments and encourages users to 'say something nice', however, if you come across an inappropriate comment there is an option to report abuse. With anything shared online, we recommend getting to know how the app works, check your privacy settings and always use the Granny Rule!
Useful Links:
TikTok does have a Digital Wellbeing centre where you can monitor your screentime here.
Three TikTok features every parent should know.
Like all apps and social networks, TikTok does have community guidelines. If your child is using the app, we recommend familiarising yourself with their guidelines here.

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TikTok is a social media platform for creating, sharing and discovering short videos. The app is used by young people as an outlet to express themselves through singing, dancing, comedy, and lip-syncing, and allows users to create videos and share them across a community. TikTok has a minimum user age of 13 years-old.

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Rings of responsibilty

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When should you start social media?

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When Is Your Brain Ready for Social Media?

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We use these resources with Reception children to start e-safety awareness

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Responsible Use of Technology for Kids - First Mobile - Cyberbullying - Fake News - Online Privacy

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Safer Internet Day Assembly March 2021 Years 5 and 6

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Safer Internet Day Assembly March 2021 Years 5 and 6

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See what pupils heard about reliability online!

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Pupils in years 1 to 4 heard about Digiduck's problem in an assembly when he didn't check his facts for a research project.

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Pupils in years 1 to 4 heard about Digiduck's problem in an assembly when he didn't check his facts for a research project.

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You can listen to the story at this link

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The third story in the Digiduck® series, focussing on reliability of online information. The aim is to encourage young children to start to think about online content, and help them to understand that what they read or see online might be true, untrue, or someone's opinion.

Would you believe your eyes if you came face-to-face with a dragon in the forest? Digiduck® finds some amazing animal facts online but is surprised to discover they may need checking. Searching the internet for information can be tricky, so Wise_Owl swoops in with a plan to put everything right.

Below you will find:

1. Free to download copies of the full story in English and Welsh

2. A video and recording of the story being read by the author, Lindsay Buck

3. An e-book of the story in English

Download the story in English and Welsh:

Read Detective Digiduck in Greek, published by Saferinternet4kids.gr.

Read Detective Digiduck in Italian.

Listen as the author, Lindsay Buck reads the story

With thanks to Natterhub for their support in the production of this recording

Read Digiduck® online here:

Donate

Even a small donation can support the development of our online safety resources and help our Education Team to connect with more children and young people.
Donate

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The third story in the Digiduck® series, focussing on reliability of online information. The aim is to encourage young children to start to think about online content, and help them to understand that what they read or see online might be true, untrue, or someone's opinion.

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Online safety Staying safe online FREE RESOURCE

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Watch our presentation here

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The British School of Milan - Sir James Henderson

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BSM E-Safety: Social Media And Your Child

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How young people use digital media to manage their mental health - Report (U.S.)

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How young people use digital media to manage their mental health - Report (U.S.)

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March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. After a year of lockdowns and remote schooling and the disruption of social norms, teens and young adults are reporting growing levels of depression, stress, and anxiety.

Common Sense partnered with Hopelab and the California Health Care Foundation to better understand how young people have been using social media and digital health tools to take care of their mental health during the pandemic. Our new report, Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health (ISSN: 2767-0163), reveals that depression rates have increased significantly since 2018, especially among teens and young adults who have had coronavirus infections in their homes. Exposure to hate speech on social media also is on the rise.

The good news is that young people are proactive in supporting their own mental health. Despite the negative content they see, digital media has been a lifeline for many of them to access critical health information, stay connected to their peers, find inspiration, and receive comfort in a difficult time.

In addition to quantitative data, the report brings the experiences of young people into focus through their own words, and provides insight into how we can best support them in their mental health journeys.

This pre-pandemic snapshot of young kids' media use presents a unique opportunity to understand the impact of the pandemic when combined with future research. But the results of this report are vitally important to finding solutions that provide all children with access to media that supports learning, health, and opportunity.

Fact sheets:

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Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health

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March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. After a year of lockdowns and remote schooling and the disruption of social norms, teens and young adults are reporting growing levels of depression, stress, and anxiety.

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Here are tools and resources to help you guide your kids' exploration of the digital world.

The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more. Outside of our app, there are resources to help you talk openly with your kid, so you can work with them to make smart decisions online and to develop healthy digital habits.

The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more. Outside of our app, there are resources to help you talk openly with your kid, so you can work with them to make smart decisions online and to develop healthy digital habits.

Family resources to develop healthy digital habits

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Parental Control Tools & Resources - YouTube Kids

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Here are tools and resources to help you guide your kids' exploration of the digital world. The YouTube Kids app has a set of parental controls for you to customize your kid's individual experience.You can decide what content to make available for them to watch, set a timer to control screen time, block videos or channels, and more.

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Pupils from years 5 and 6 who completed the online modules received a badge!

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Many of our year 5 and 6 pupils completed these modules on staying safe online In February 2021 and received a BSM Esafety badge for doing them all!

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Digital Passport by Common Sense Education is an award-winning suite of engaging games that address key issues facing kids in today's digital world.

Teachers, this way to the Educator Guide to Digital Passport!

Get resources

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Digital Passport™ by Common Sense Education

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Digital Passport™ is an award-winning suite of engaging interactive games that address critical issues for students in today's digital world. Teach your students the ins and outs of digital learning, online communication, and online safety, and help them build lifelong digital skills.

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Try a scavenger hunt to take a break from the screen.

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Try a scavenger hunt to take a break from the screen.

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With our current remote learning routines, technology is a lifesaver for most families. E-learning tools for kids are more important than ever, and can help you support your child. Even if you're in a situation where your child has returned to a physical classroom, these activities will help augment their learning in a fun, play-based way. Technology is vital right now, but it's also important for kids to find balance between on-screen and off-screen time.

Luckily, there are tons of simple, screen-free activitie s that your kids can complete with your support or independently (so you can get your own work done!). These activities focus on creativity and spatial reasoning, to make sure your kids continue developing important critical thinking skills away from the screen.

[affiliate links may apply]

While some of these activities may require your support at first, especially for younger children, they should be able to take over independently before long.

Handwriting Practice

This may sound dry, but there are tons of fun ways for kids to work on their handwriting during remote learning ! Even better, handwriting practice helps develop both fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

Make it special by letting your kids use special markers or pens they don't usually get to use. Try "rainbow writing," where kids choose 3 colors of crayon or colored pencil and practice tracing letters on top of each other so they look like rainbows. If you have a sand table or sandbox in your backyard, get a thin layer of sand and let your child write in the sand using their finger or a stick.

If you're feeling ambitious during your screen-free activity time, you could even spread shaving cream on a table and let your child practice writing with their fingers in it for a novel and fun activity.

Puzzle Play

Puzzles are a great way to build spatial thinking and logical reasoning. They use both left- and right-brained thinking and help with your child's development .

Tangram puzzles, like those we've designed for our own academic boot camp students , are designed specifically to help your child develop their critical thinking skills.

In addition, jigsaw puzzles are a fun and engaging way to practice spatial awareness that doesn't require any work on your part-just find an empty table and let your child go! For older kids, crossword puzzles are a great way to improve vocabulary and logical reasoning. There are many crossword books and jigsaw puzzles available for purchase online, and you can even make your own crossword puzzles that integrate the words your child is learning right now to support with education from home.

Play Dough provides your child with a classic screen-free activity kids have been enjoying for decades! You probably have some play dough laying around the house, but if not, here's a recipe to make your own . You can use different food colorings to make it even more fun, adding the whole rainbow to the mix. After that, you can let your kids' imaginations run wild! Give them a rolling pin and some cookie cutters and see what they come up with.

Even better, you can pair play dough with learning mats to help your child learn important concepts, like cyber security (even more valuable right now, when screen time is more common!).

This is a particularly fun activity if you have a creative learner ! From finger paints to watercolors, painting helps children bring their imagination to life. To minimize the mess factor that comes with painting, set your kids up in the backyard (if the weather allows), so you don't have to worry about spills in the house. Alternatively, put down an old sheet to protect surfaces.

For kids who are nervous about freestyle painting, there are plenty of paint by number books available to get them started. In some cities, art supply shops are selling takeout paint kits complete with paints, brushes, and canvases, so check around and see if shopping local is an option in your area.

Legos or Blocks

Legos and blocks are endlessly fun for kids, but also build spatial thinking skills at the same time. They're a great way to play with shapes and help your child develop new vocabulary around where objects are in space . Legos and blocks are great tools here. Try giving your child a challenge, like building an underwater town or a new type of skyscraper. See what they come up with and ask them to explain their decision-making process!

Just like legos and puzzles, origami is a great way to improve visual spatial skills and fine motor skills. You'll just need to get your child started with several pieces of square paper and some directions. Again, there are a variety of origami books that teach kids how to make anything from flowers and zoo animals to spaceships. If you're looking for some free options, this website has more than 70 different ideas.

Audio Books

Exploring literature through audio books is a great way for kids to keep their minds and imaginations engaged while building crucial communications skills. The popular audio book platform Audible is offering their children's collection, Audible Stories , for free as long as schools are closed. This incredible collection includes classics as well as contemporary works that will keep kids entertained and immersed.

Creating Balance with Screen-Free Activities

Remote learning doesn't have to be exclusively online. We understand that even with everyone working and learning from home, life can get busy! Screen-free activitie s can be as simple as setting up a space with some art supplies and letting your child use their imagination. Have fun with it, and enjoy the opportunity to get your own work done, as well as see your kids explore their own creativity.

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Screen-Free Activities for Remote Learning

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As your kids learn from home, it's important to balance screen time and off-screen time. Not to mention, you may be juggling conference calls, housework, dinner, and more! That's when it comes in handy to have some easy, screen-free activities for your children to do independently.

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Our recent online safety expert told us about the tools for Android and Apple users which you can find in the links below:
ANDROID: https://families.google.com/familylink/

APPLE:
https://www.apple.com/family-sharing/

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Guide to monitoring apps for parents

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With children accessing the internet on a range of devices, the job of protecting them from things they may not be ready for online can be a challenge.

In recent years, a wide variety of monitoring software solutions have appeared to allow you to see what children are doing online and set digital boundaries.

With the help of Pocket-lint's Andy Robertson, we've given tips on how best to use them and reviewed the top apps available.

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Guide to monitoring apps for parents | Internet Matters

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With children accessing the internet on a range of devices, the job of protecting them from things they may not be ready for online can be a challenge. In recent years, a wide variety of monitoring software solutions have appeared to allow you to see what children are doing online and set digital boundaries.

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What is TikTok? How safe is TikTok? How does TikTok work? Is TikTok appropriate for kids? What age is TikTok recommended for? Can kids under 13 use TikTok? How can you make your TikTok account private? How can I use TikTok with my kids? How do you do a duet on TikTok?

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WhatsApp is introducing new controls that let you limit who can add you to group messages. VentureBeat notes that the app now lets you stop people from adding you to groups if they're not a contact in your address book. Alternatively, you can prevent anyone at all from being able to add you, or else leave the option open to all.

The feature is one part of a host of changes the service is making to try and stop misinformation from easily spreading. The reported that ahead of Brazil's elections last year political campaigners were using software to automatically add swaths of people to politically motivated WhatsApp groups without their consent. reports that similar practices are widespread in India.

WhatsApp has already limited the amount of times a message can be forwarded to five, and also now labels forwarded messages to draw attention to them. Yesterday, the service launched a new fact-checking service in India which users can use to verify the truthfulness of any messages they've been sent.

Users that restrict who can add them to groups can still be added by private invitation. They'll receive a link, which gives basic information about the group they've been invited to, and can choose to join it if they want to. Otherwise the link expires in 72 hours. Previously a WhatsApp support page noted that the only way to prevent being added to a group was to block the group's admin.

The new settings can be accessed by heading to Account options within the settings menu. Select Privacy, then Groups, and you'll be able to select who exactly can add you to a group. This gives you three options, Nobody, My Contacts, or Everyone. WhatsApp's new group controls are launching today, and will be rolling out to all users in the coming weeks.

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WhatsApp now lets you control who can add you to groups

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WhatsApp is introducing new controls that let you limit who can add you to group messages. VentureBeat notes that the app now lets you stop people from adding you to groups if they're not a contact in your address book.

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The Problem with Parents, Kids, and Social Media

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Privacy Settings for Social Media - Step-By-Step guides

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Privacy Settings for Social Media - Step-By-Step guides

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In addition to our how-to guides on the most popular apps, you can also find out more about other social apps that children are using. Below we have compiled a list of apps to watch out for and provide a related web link for you to learn more about how to set controls on the app.

Live streaming apps

Live streaming has captured the imagination of teens around the world but also introduced a number of risks they could be exposed to. See our list of safety guides to get up to speed on the most popular Live streaming apps.

Periscope - Designed by Twitter, Periscope lets you share and experience live video streams from your mobile or tablet device.

Live.me - Live.me is a social platform that allows users to connect with others and earn virtual goods which can be exchanged for prizes, rewards, and cash.

YouNow - The app allows you to comment and like users videos and buy gifts that generate money for the app creator.

Social gaming apps

If your child is gaming online, they may be using platforms to allow them to chat and communicate with other players or friends. Use the following safety guides to help keep them safe on the most popular social gaming platforms.

Steam - This is one of the most popular social gaming networks that allows you to buy and play games online and store them in the cloud.

Xbox live - Microsoft's online service for its consoles is called Xbox Live and when you're signed into the service you can chat to other Xbox Live members and befriend them.

Twitch TV - Twitch.tv is a live streaming social gaming platform that is equipped with a chat feature to allow players to interact with each other and live stream and watch video game competitions.

Roblox - One of the biggest online gaming platforms and features social elements which allows players to talk to each other and send friend requests.

Minecraft - One of the most popular gaming platforms among primary school age children (despite 13 minimum age guide).

PlayStation Network - Allows users to go online and access PlayStation Store content, online gameplay and use the chat function to talk to other players.

Nintendo Network - Nintendo's consoles are more family-friendly than most and therefore its chat functionality is a lot more geared to safe interaction for younger players.

Limitation of network filters

Some content and sites can be encrypted, which means they're coded in a way that prevents the controls from knowing what the content actually is, so filters will not necessarily apply. There are also ways of bypassing filters using what's called a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if your child is technologically savvy enough.

They also don't usually restrict purchases through apps or the use of certain programmes that are already on the device. You'll need to consider setting your device controls and platform (such as Chrome or Netflix) controls too.

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Take a look at our list of social media guides to get you up to speed on the most popular platforms and help set the right privacy settings.

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E-Safety Online Wellbeing Presentation December 2020

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E-Safety Online Wellbeing Presentation December 2020

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Slides from Parent presentation E-safety and Online Wellbeing Dec 2020 (PDF)

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Slides from Parent presentation E-safety and Online Wellbeing Dec 2020 (PDF)

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supporting primary schoolers online

six to tens

`{`Music`}`

between the ages of six to ten it's

likely your child

might get their first connected device

perhaps a games console or a tablet

so take the time to have regular chats

with your child about their well-being

and safety online

this will help them develop coping

strategies to deal with online risks

and encourage them to make safer choices

`{`Music`}`

online

set up parental controls on your home

broadband as well as any

internet-enabled devices that your child

has access to

our setup safe parental control guides

will walk you through the steps

so you can get set up in just a few

minutes don't forget to check that any

online accounts are password protected

if you're concerned about the time your

child spends online

many devices and apps will have inbuilt

controls to help you set limits

on when they should be using them and

for how long ensure your child maintains

a good balance of online and offline

activities

and that their online activities are

positive and have purpose

it's helpful to agree some rules with

your child to encourage them to develop

good digital habits for the future

if you're looking to give them their own

devices choose ones that offer

child-friendly content and tailored

parental controls to give them a safer

space to explore online

don't forget that gaming consoles also

offer internet access

so it's important to set parental

controls

be involved with your child's internet

use this will make it easier for you to

advise them on issues they might

experience

and for them to share concerns about

anything that may upset them

encourage them to question what they see

online to build their critical thinking

create a user account for your child

that only allows access to the sites and

apps you've chosen

you could also set your home page to a

child-friendly site

such as an educational site like bbc

bite size

or a safe search engine like swiggle

activate

safe search settings on sites like

google and youtube

and encourage them to use child friendly

apps like youtube kids

many popular games involve playing

online with others

so be aware that your child may be

creating an online presence

age ratings on games and apps are a

helpful way of establishing if they are

age appropriate

and use the strictest privacy settings

if they're playing free to play games

make sure to set a password on your app

store account to restrict

in-app purchases and avoid getting

caught out with a big bill

as soon as they can share and interact

with others online

talk about what information they should

and shouldn't share

discuss what it means to be a good

digital citizen

and emphasize the importance of

developing a good digital footprint

some children may find themselves

bullying or being bullied online

so it's important to talk to them about

being a good friend online and where to

get support if they need it

remind them that they can talk to you or

a trusted adult if they have any

concerns

because safety on the internet matters

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Online safety advice for 6-10 year olds | Internet Matters

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supporting primary schoolers online six to tens `{`Music`}` between the ages of six to ten it's likely your child might get their first connected device perhaps a games console or a tablet so take the time to have regular chats with your child about their well-being and safety online this

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Parental controls - Internet Matters guides

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Parental controls - Internet Matters guides

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Set up parental controls on devices and platforms | Internet Matters

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Set up parental controls on a range of devices and platforms to help children develop key online safety and digital literacy skills.

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Electronic devices have become an integral part of most children's lives. Kids use screen-based electronics throughout the day for schoolwork, entertainment, communication, and more. While technology offers countless educational and social benefits, there are also downsides to our widespread, easy access to these devices. One concern is the impact technology may be having on sleep.

As technology became commonplace in day-to-day life, sleep quality in children suffered. Approximately one third of children and more than half of adolescents do not get enough sleep. There are a few ways that evening and nighttime access to electronic devices could affect how much kids sleep. Spending more hours of the night on screens leaves fewer hours for sleep, and stimulating content could decrease sleepiness. Another mechanism through which electronics may affect sleep through the blue light emitted by these devices.

What Is Blue Light?

The full spectrum of visible light consists of varied light wavelengths. Violet light has the shortest wavelength, while red light wavelengths are the longest. Blue light is a short wavelength type of light that promotes alertness and performance. Blue light is also the most important regulator of our sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.

What Are Common Sources of Blue Light?

The screens of televisions, smartphones, tablets, computers, gaming systems, and certain e-readers all produce artificial blue light. However, we aren't exposed to blue light solely through electronics. We get most of our blue light exposure from the sun. Additionally, light-emitting diode (LED) and fluorescent light bulbs - which have become increasingly common in homes due to their energy-efficiency - produce blue light.

Blue Light and Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that promotes feelings of sleepiness, and blue light suppresses the production of melatonin. Humans evolved to maintain a sleep-wake cycle based around the rising and setting of the sun. When we are exposed only to natural light from the sun, melatonin levels are low during the day, begin to increase in the evening following sunset, reach their peak in the middle of the night, and then gradually decrease until morning.

Exposure to blue light during the day from sunlight or other sources is a healthy promoter of energy and concentration. Daytime blue light exposure has also been shown to improve sleep quality and duration. However, using devices that produce artificial blue light in the evening and nighttime disrupts our natural sleep-wake cycle by tricking the brain into not producing melatonin before bed. This causes us to feel less sleepy than we should at bedtime.

How Does Blue Light Affect Children?

The general principles of light affecting melatonin production and sleep apply to both children and adults. However, children may be even more sensitive to light. As we age, structures in our eyes gradually become less sensitive to light. Children also have larger pupils than adults. A research study found that evening light exposure suppressed melatonin twice as much in children compared to adults. A child's age and developmental stage may also determine the impact. Researchers found that children who had not yet gone through puberty experienced significantly more melatonin suppression in response to evening light compared with post-puberty adolescents.

Does Blue Light Cause Sleep Issues in Children?

Observational studies from around the world have shown that screen use by children is associated with later bedtimes and less time spent asleep. While these observational studies cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, numerous studies in adults have demonstrated that light exposure in the evening and the use of blue light-emitting devices before bed affect sleep. This evidence, combined with the data showing that children have an increased sensitivity to light-related melatonin suppression, suggests that the sleep-disrupting effects of blue light may apply to children as well.

However, more research is needed to illuminate whether blue light causes disrupted sleep or if children who already struggle with sleep are more likely to use screens (and be exposed to blue light) before bed and at night. It is possible that these two factors may share a bidirectional relationship, meaning that sleep affects screen time use, and screen time use affects sleep.

Effects of Sleep Loss in Kids

While the relationship between evening blue light exposure and sleep in children requires further investigation, the important role sleep plays in childhood functioning and development is well-supported by scientific evidence. Research has shown that sleep loss is linked with inattentiveness, impulsivity, and difficulty self-regulating. Children who don't get sufficient sleep are also at risk for poorer school performance. The symptoms of sleep loss in children often mirror the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may lead to a misdiagnosis of ADHD in some sleep-deprived children.

Certain hormones that help with muscle mass, a healthy immune system, and cell repair are released during sleep, so these functions may also be impacted in children who are not sleeping enough.

How Can You Reduce Exposure to Blue Light?

Given the importance of sleep for a child's mental and physical health, ensuring that children are consistently getting enough sleep at night is critical. If you are concerned about the impact blue light exposure may be having on your child's sleep, there are a number of steps you and your child can take. Start by trying the following interventions:

Set a technology curfew: Establish a nightly schedule that involves ceasing the use of electronics one hour before bedtime. You can use an alarm to help a child remember to turn off screens at a certain time. It might help to plan other calming activities before bed, such as reading, puzzles, coloring, painting, or stretching. Parents should also lead by an example and limit the use of screens prior to bedtime.

Create technology-free zones: Storing phones and other devices outside of the bedroom, and especially away from the mattress, may be a difficult transition for some kids, but it can have a big impact on nighttime blue light exposure. It reduces the temptation to use devices before going to sleep and eliminates the possibility of being woken up by texts, calls, and other alerts.

Use blue light filters: Special glasses that filter out blue light may help combat the adverse effects of blue light exposure before bed. Blue light-filtering apps are also an option. They shift the color tone of a tablet or smartphone screen toward warmer wavelengths of the light spectrum.

Alter settings: Many electronic devices include options for "night mode" or "dark mode" that change the screen background to black, reducing blue light exposure.

Switch to red lights: Red light exposure does not suppress melatonin production, so it could help to use red light bulbs for evening reading lamps and nightlights. Yellow light and orange light are also on the long wavelength end of the light spectrum and could be good options.

Ensure daytime light exposure: Getting exposed to bright light during the day helps to synchronize circadian rhythms and promotes sleepiness at bedtime. Make sure your child gets plenty of bright, natural, daytime light.

It can be a struggle to navigate setting rules and boundaries around screen use, especially in teens. Talk with your child or teen frequently about the role of sleep in their physical and emotional health and the harmful effects blue light may have on sleep. It might help to work together on establishing rules for technology use. Parents and guardians can also model healthy sleep habits, including following a technology curfew and storing electronics outside the bedroom.

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How Does Blue Light Affect Children's Sleep? | Sleep Foundation

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Electronic devices have become an integral part of most children's lives. Kids use screen-based electronics throughout the day for schoolwork, entertainment, communication, and more. While technology offers countless educational and social benefits, there are also downsides to our widespread, easy access to these devices. One concern is the impact technology may be having on sleep.

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2020 report on YouTube from CommonSense Media

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2020 report on YouTube from CommonSense Media

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Helpful info for parents of under-5s

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The eSafety Early Years program provides advice on how parents and carers can support young children to have safe and enjoyable experiences online.

More online safety advice and resources for young children and their families is being rolled out through 2020. Register to stay updated.

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The eSafety Early Years program provides advice on how parents and carers can support young children to have safe and enjoyable experiences online. More online safety advice and resources for young children and their families is being rolled out through 2020. Register to stay updated.

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British Government's advice on staying safe online during the pandemic

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British Government's advice on staying safe online during the pandemic

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We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support

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We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We'd like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

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With schools closed and governments issuing orders for people to stay at home, a lot of kids have no choice but to turn to their screens for school and any kind of socializing. The debate over how much screentime is healthy is nothing new, but our devices have arguably never played as big a role in our lives as they do now when it comes to staying connected amid a global pandemic.

devices have arguably never played such a big a role in our lives

To understand how these changes might affect kids, The Verge spoke with Lloyda Williamson, a general and child psychiatrist and the chair of the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at Meharry Medical College. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Recent data shows that a majority of kids between the ages of six and 12 in the US are spending at least 50 percent more time in front of screens each day during the COVID-19 outbreaks. How might that affect kids' development and mental health?
It's interesting because we have sort of mixed guidelines in terms of children's exposure to digital technology. We of course have the educators that are really promoting the use of digital technology to help them to gain skills, to provide ways for them to be more engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math, and just help them to be prepared for a productive workforce in the future.
What can parents and guardians do to counteract some of those potentially adverse effects? And how do we talk with kids about the pandemic?
On the other hand, you've got the public health officials that are, I would say, not anti-digital but more cautious because of concerns about various aspects of health. One of the social concerns is that, of course, we have predatory individuals, there's cyberbullying. Some examples of emotional concerns might be just addictive behaviors toward digital technology and depression, as well as access to inappropriate content. With this increased time [on screens], a lot of times that means that these children are less active in terms of physical activity and exercise. And then, we're understanding that there's a shortened or decreased attention span [when it comes to cognitive development].

Of course, as we look at digital technology we're talking about lots of different platforms and types of media. And a lot of what we're dealing with in terms of digital technology is new. So, what we have in terms of [studies on the effects of] "screen time" are primarily on television. And we realized that television is different than a lot of the platforms that we have where people are interacting in different ways. So I guess the short answer is we don't really know what the impact of digital technology is going to have, because it hasn't been out long enough to get these long-term studies.

"Children are definitely aware that we're experiencing a crisis."

One of the things that I think is very crucial, particularly since our children are at home, is the parental example of media use. One of the things we forget is that our children are watching us all the time. And so they see how much time we're on social media using different digital media, and many times their behavior patterns and their patterns of use are patterned after us.

We have a thirst for news and as we are watching on the TV or listening on social media, our children are also exposed to that. That can be not only overwhelming for us, but also overwhelming for our children. So have some boundaries as to how much of this we're going to watch and at what times of the day. Sometimes it's just good to turn it off and do some other things instead of just keeping up with every news event.

As adults we do have to be aware of what our children are experiencing along with the increased tension in our community. Children are definitely aware that we're experiencing a crisis. Many adolescents are resistant to staying at home and just really want to connect with their friends in person. And so, when those activities are restricted, that can bring out some feelings of sadness, depression, irritability, anger, frustration. For younger kids, when they realize that their lives are different, it's a good opportunity for us to talk with them about what's going on. Have conversations about how they're doing, what they miss about school, what they miss about having contact with their friends, and then just listening and giving them an opportunity to talk about their feelings.

I think it's important to tell them facts according to their developmental level. Some people may say, "Well, how do you talk about this coronavirus when people are dying?" But we should be having some of these difficult conversations with children all along - like being safe when you go out in public, not speaking to strangers and why that's important. We have these difficult conversations, and so this is another one: why it's important to wash your hands, why it's important for us to stay in our safe place at home during this time, and why, when people get ill, it can be very serious, to the point where some people are ending up in the hospital or maybe even die.
With so many schools closed, how might online classes affect students' learning?
"we should be having some of these difficult conversations with children"

As parents are interacting with their children, they may want to know "what are some signs of my child or my adolescent not doing well?" Pay attention to changes in their behavior, changes in the way they communicate, and change in their personalities - like they're becoming more withdrawn, irritable, if they're sleeping more, or if they're arguing more. If it gets to the point that it's really negatively impacting their ability to interact with the family, or where they're not eating or sleeping, then they may want to reach out to their care provider and see if this may be a time that an evaluation needs to occur before it gets to the point that there's actually a serious psychiatric or mental health disorder.

We have more data in terms of college students, and we don't have as much of that data with younger children. And so I think we're in a big experiment.
Many parents have struggled with putting limits on screentime, even before outbreaks of COVID-19. Is that a good idea now, especially for kids who might feel like that's their only connection to the outside world while they're stuck at home?
It's challenging for teachers to relate to different learning styles online. Different children learn differently. Some are more visual. Some are more auditory. Some have a mixed learning style. And then children have different levels of being able to be self motivated and participate in these online educational activities. There are a lot of different factors to consider, to see how people may respond positively or negatively or in mixed ways. But parents [can be] aware of their child, their child's learning style and personality, and check in with them.

"We're in a big experiment."

We don't want to do all or none. So we don't want to cut them off. We're looking for a sense of balance, in terms of communicating, learning, connecting. Let's also turn [screens] off for some time so they can connect together as a family - and so that they can also perhaps engage in some other activities, whether it's cooking, doing yard work outside, or drawing, or even interacting as a family with different games and things.

There's so many resources out there, there's so many apps. I think the main thing is finding things that will help bring you a sense of peace, and using those things instead of things that would add more stress and more anxiety.

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How to talk with kids about screentime and COVID-19

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Kids are spending more time online and staring at screens while they're at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Verge spoke with a child psychiatrist about how all that screentime might affect kids and how to talk with them about the novel coronavirus.

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Read this review from Commonsensemedia

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Chance to design games, but also potential for iffy content. Read Common Sense Media’s Roblox review, age rating, and parents guide.

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By Caroline Knorr | June 11, 2020

Gymnasts know that there's a fraction of an inch between a flawless routine -- and total disaster. Parents, too, know that managing screen time can be a balancing act. Sure, movies, games, television, and online activities can be lifesavers when you're juggling caregiving, homeschooling, and working. But even when you're on your game -- choosing high-quality, age-appropriate content, getting outside, talking to kids about their games and shows -- your kid can have a complete meltdown after three (or was it four?) episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Recognizing the moment between "all good" and "my bad!" isn't always obvious. We've identified five common warning signs that your kid's screen balance is tipping into the trouble zone, and effective strategies for getting back on solid ground.

Inappropriate outsized reactions. We've all seen the extreme behaviors -- meltdowns, defiance, irritation, or just bouncing off the walls -- that kids exhibit at times after screen use. Some parents blame fast-action games like , but really anything could trigger this behavior. Kids simply don't always have the language -- or the patience -- to explain what's happening to them, so they tell you by acting out.

What to do. While there's no magic number of "good" screen-time hours, you can figure out what your kid's personal limit is by noting their reactions and making changes. Two hours of Xbox = dinner-time meltdown? Next time cut them off at one hour and see if things change. Identify "good stopping points" before kids go online (at the end of an episode or match), which gives kids more agency. Also help them develop self-soothing skills. Establish a more regular schedule so that they can pace themselves throughout the day. Substitute screen-free games like chess or 20 Questions with family to help your kid work on waiting their turn, delaying gratification, and practicing communication skills. Apps that help kids manage their emotions, which you can download onto your own phone, may also help.

Headaches. Has your kid complained of headaches or trouble seeing? It could be their eyes. Vision problems, eye fatigue, and eye strain can cause real pain -- and could be a sign that kids are doing too much "near work," such as reading or overdoing the screens. Check for watery eyes, squinting, or kids rubbing their eyes a lot.

What to do. You don't want to waste time on this one. With your kid's help, figure out the point at which the symptoms crop up; doctors say it's usually at about the two-hour mark. Reduce screen time by half to see if the issue resolves. Also, make screen time dependent on your kid maintaining healthy screen "hygiene": good posture, positioning the screen at least 18 inches away, not leaning in and squinting. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Move away from the screen every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Help them strengthen their distance vision by getting outdoors. And then set some time limits on screens to help them get more balance. If these don't help, see an eye doctor.

Trouble sleeping. If your kid isn't sleeping, there's a chance devices are one of the culprits. Kids may be overstimulated from their devices' blue light, tired from checking their phones throughout the night, staying up late watching television, distressed by bad news, or having troubling online interactions. Whatever the cause, a good night's sleep is an essential foundation for many things, including mental well-being, a healthy lifestyle, and keeping kids' minds alert for learning.

What to do.Make sleep a priority. Collect devices at night, turn off the Wi-Fi, and enable screen limits on devices so that they can't get online. Help kids wind down about an hour before bedtime -- meaning no screens. Try meditation (with or without an app), soothing music, and bedtime stories to help kids settle. And if kids are still having trouble, there may be something deeper going on, so you should see your pediatrician.

Isolation, sadness, crying. If your kid is exhibiting these symptoms, negative online experiences could add to their despair. Combined with what some kids are readily exposed to on social media -- bullying, hate speech, scary news, and brutal videos -- it's completely natural for them to feel this way.

What to do. Some social media may provide a supportive environment for your kid, so while you may be tempted to make them feel better by forcing a total break from screens, take it slow. Talk to them about how they're feeling, what they do on social media, how they're treated, and whether their online interactions are mostly positive. Help them cut back on their online time and stick to social media that's positive and supportive. You can use parental controls to restrict access to sites and apps that may be triggering. When they do go online, it may provide some relief to use social media more as an outlet for creative expression rather than an endless slog through other people's lives. Keep an eye on your kid, and if things don't turn around, call your pediatrician.

Loss of focus and energy. You know the look: glazed zombie eyes, wishy-washy replies, flitting from thing to thing. While there's ongoing research exploring whether devices can cause inattention -- and even ADHD -- it's more likely that your kid is just, well, acting like kids do when they don't know what to do with themselves.

What to do. Change things up -- starting with your expectations. You may need to rely on screens more than usual right now, but that doesn't give your kid permission to opt out of meaningful participation in family life. If your kid has a bad case of the blahs, let them know that they need to interact and engage with folks at home as much as they do with, say, Animal Crossing. Aside from screen time, provide offline activities that require focused attention, including puzzles, audio stories and podcasts, and reading. Ask them questions to encourage deeper thinking, comprehension, and making connections.

For more tips and resources like these to help your family get set up for distance learning, check out our Back to School Guide at Wide Open School.

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5 Signs of Screen Overload -- and How to Handle Them

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By Caroline Knorr | June 11, 2020 Gymnasts know that there's a fraction of an inch between a flawless routine -- and total disaster. Parents, too, know that managing screen time can be a balancing act. Sure, movies, games, television, and online activities can be lifesavers when you're juggling caregiving, homeschooling, and working.

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Expert perspective | 4 minute read

Today, about 3 billion people are in lockdown around the world - and almost 90% of the student population cut off from school. It's no surprise that a lot of children and their parents are increasingly connecting to the outside world through screens they might have once regarded with restraint or even reproach.

With more than 130 countries restricting movement to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time to recognize the internet as a critical tool for children's access to learning, play, entertainment and social interaction. In short, they might have a lot to gain from spending time in the digital space.

But for parents who worried about the time their children spend on social media and online games before the pandemic, the figurative 'jump' into screens can also cause more concern or even distress. How can children and families make the most of the increased reliance on screens - which are helping to maintain a sense of normalcy during lockdown - while also finding the right balance with other important activities?

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Rethinking screen-time in the time of COVID-19

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Expert perspective | 4 minute read Today, about 3 billion people are in lockdown around the world - and almost 90% of the student population cut off from school. It's no surprise that a lot of children and their parents are increasingly connecting to the outside world through screens they might have once regarded with restraint or even reproach.

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See our list of wellbeing apps for kids that are designed to help them learn how to manage their mental health.

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Quality vs quantity

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Most (80%) Australian parents worry children spend too much time with screens.

But what children are doing on and off screen matters more than how much time they're exposed to screen media.

Too much time?

There was a time when society was concerned about children reading. If kids are reading, how will they complete their chores or homework?

The fear that time spent with media replaces other "acceptable" activities of childhood is often referred to as the displacement hypothesis. One such concern is that screen time occupies time spent on physical activity.

Read more: What is physical activity in early childhood, and is it really that important?

Because screen time is often sedentary, researchers have investigated whether it displaces the time children spend being physically active. But the relationship between screen time and physical activity is not straightforward.

from shutterstock.com

Low levels of screen time do not always equate to higher levels of physical activity. And when there is a relationship between more screen time and less physical activity, it's often a result of excessive daily screen time.

The Australian guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour advise children under two avoid screen time entirely. But a nationally representative poll conducted by the Royal Children's Hospital found 63% of children aged two and under had screen exposure.

For children aged two to five, the Australian guidelines encourage parents to limit the time children spend with screens to no more than one hour a day. The child health poll found around 72% of children in this age group exceeded this recommendation.

Read more: Look up north. Here's how Aussie kids can move more at school, Nordic style

So, most Australian families are exceeding the guidelines, which are essentially built on a premise that isn't clear-cut. Not all screen time is "bad".

Is screen time bad?

A 2004 study from the United States explored the average time children spent watching television per day when they were aged one and three, and whether this affected their attention span in later years.

They found watching TV in the early years was associated with a higher risk of attention problems when these children were seven. But the research didn't test the types of programs the children were watching.

In 2007, the same researchers looked at the effects of the content children watched. They found an association between watching violent or entertaining television such as Scooby Doo and Rugrats before the age of three and an increased risk of attention problems five years later.

But there was no such association when it came to educational content such as Sesame Street.

from shutterstock.com

So, content plays a role, but the child's age also matters. In this same study, the type of content viewed by four- and five-year-olds did not affect their attention five years later.

The above studies describe changes over time. But other studies looked at the immediate effects of different screen content on children's executive functioning - the thinking required to problem solve and stay on task.

Read more: Two-hour screen limit for kids is virtually impossible to enforce

These studies found exposure to educational content didn't hinder children's subsequent executive functioning. But these abilities were depleted in four- and six-year-olds who had just watched fast and fantastical shows that played with the bounds of physics and reality.

What if you use screens with your children?

Decades of television research has shown children under three years old learn better from live interactions than from two-dimensional sources. So, these young children have little to gain from screens in the absence of a parent or peer.

Television meant for adult audiences, as well as television on in the background, disrupts the quality of children's play and parent-child interactions that are critical for early language and social development.

The adverse effects of this type of screen exposure are due to limiting both the frequency and quality of interactions between child and caregiver. In the presence of background television, parents are less attentive and responsive to their child.

Read more: Let them play! Kids need freedom from play restrictions to develop

Parents' own device use can be detrimental to the interactions they have with their children. Smartphone use can cause parents to be less attentive and responsive to their children.

All this is important to be mindful of, especially during the early years when these interactions directly contribute to language learning and social skills.

But what about if a parent uses a screen together with their child?

A 2014 study found preschoolers' storybook comprehension and parent-child interactions did not significantly differ between a traditional book and an electronic book.

However, the quality of play and parent-child interactions are reduced with electronic toys as compared to traditional toys.

So, what screen time is OK?

To have healthy, positive, quality screen media experiences, parents could ask the following questions:

Is the screen content

optimally challenging (meaning not too difficult or too easy)?

engaging (does it have age-appropriate features that maintain attention and invite participation)?

meaningful (can children relate the content to their lives)?

interactive, in the physical or social sense. Young children can actually form relationships with screen characters, which improves their learning. Older children can engage virtually in worlds such as Minecraft, then talk about it in school.

Sharing the screen experience with an adult has benefits too. These include helping children understand the content and having an adult direct learning and ask questions.

The best way to engage in screen time with your children is to talk about it, ask questions and create opportunities to take the screen into the 3D world.

And, importantly, model the media use behaviour you want your children to adopt.

By occasionally employing the "digital babysitter", you are not dooming your children's success. What children are doing matters just as much, if not more, than how long they're doing it for.
Parents can find more information about creating positive screen media experiences at:

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Stop worrying about screen 'time'. It's your child's screen experience that matters

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Most (80%) Australian parents worry children spend too much time with screens. But what children are doing on and off screen matters more than how much time they're exposed to screen media. There was a time when society was concerned about children reading. If kids are reading, how will they complete their chores or homework?

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The Adventures of Kara, Winston and the SMART Crew - Full film

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Apple has released the latest version of its iOS mobile operating system, and perhaps the most significant change in iOS12 is a new ' Screentime ' digital wellbeing feature designed to help users monitor and manage their screentime.

When enabled, Apple's new digital wellbeing feature offers a number of summary usage statistics - from the number of times you pick up your phone, to the number of notifications you receive, along with the amount of time you spend with apps and websites.

And to manage your screen time, users can set their own time limits and schedules for phone usage, categories of apps or individual apps. These screentime features can be managed for multiple phones from one device if permissions are set.

So here's a rundown of iOS 12 digital wellbeing features

Screentime Dashboard (Settings -> Screentime) - See current usage for today (total and per hour) and last seven days (total and per day) including total screentime, total pickups (times you've picked up and interacted with the screen), per app, per app category, and number of notifications (total and by app).

App Limits (Settings -> Screen Time -> App Limits) - Set time limits for apps or categories of apps (e.g. social media)

Downtime (Settings -> Screen Time -> Downtime) - Set schedule form time away from screen

Night shift (available from iOS 11) - (Settings -> Display and Brightness -> Night Shift) - Set schedule for warmer screen colour, that may help with sleep

Do Not Disturb (updated in iOS 12) - (Settings -> Do not disturb) - Set schedule (including Bedtime) or manually set to silence notifications and calls (also auto-enable when driving)

Content and Privacy Restrictions - Set restrictions for content access and changes to privacy settings

From a psychological perspective, Apple is using the same basic BCTs (Behavioural Change Techniques) that other digital wellbeing tools are using.

BCT#1 - Goal Setting (behaviour) - Set or agree on a goal defined in terms of the behaviour to be achieved

BCT #12 - Self-monitoring of behaviour - Establish a method for the person to monitor and record their behaviour(s) as part of a behavior change strategy

BCT #37 - Remove aversive stimulus - Advise or arrange for the removal of an aversive stimulus to facilitate behavior change (includes 'Escape learning')

Whether or not these BCTs of goal setting, self-monitoring and removal of aversive stimuli (e.g. notifications) will help people manage their screentime remains to be seen. But Apple has missed a number of tricks.

First the iOS 12 digital wellbeing features are buried under settings menu, rather having their own dedicated app that would be more prominent and facilitate ease of access.

Second, the digital wellbeing features are scattered across various different settings, which may impede use.

And third, with the launch this month of the new iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, Apple has decided to discontinue the small iPhone SE, which would have been an ideal device for those wishing to manage their screentime. Instead, Apple has maxed out on screen size with immersive screen experiences, and this will tempt increased usage.

If Apple wanted to show it is serious about digital wellbeing, then an updated iPhone SE with its 4 inch screen and with dedicated digital wellbeing features would be compelling evidence.

In a world, where no politician is going to get criticised for attacking Big Tech, bringing back the iPhone SE - wellbeing edition - would be a smart move for Apple.

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Apple launches iOS 12 with suite of digital wellbeing features

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Apple has released the latest version of its iOS mobile operating system, and perhaps the most significant change in iOS12 is a new ' Screentime ' digital wellbeing feature designed to help users monitor and manage their screentime.

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How To Child Proof Your Tech During Lockdown Wired.com

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How To Child Proof Your Tech During Lockdown Wired.com

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More comprehensive parental controls for Android can be managed with the broader Family Link service that covers everything about a Google account- see here for details on how to set it up. On your child's Android device, from Settings go to Google then Parental controls to link the phone or tablet to the Family Link app on your own device, which lets you configure the apps that can be installed, the times the device can be used, and so on.

Should your kids be lucky enough to have their own Mac, you can manage them using the same Screen Time and Family Sharing features we mentioned above-from System Preferences, choose Screen Time and then Options, and you can either just configure Screen Time settings (limits on app usage, content, and more) that are protected by a PIN code, or link the computer to an Apple ID in your family group.

Sticking to the most basic Screen Time option is an easier and quicker solution-tick the Use Screen Time Passcode box then your child won't be able to override the restrictions that you've put in place. Click Set up Family Sharing for more comprehensive options, which let you manage these settings (and get reports) from your own Apple devices, but which will also require your kids to have their own Apple IDs to log into macOS with.

The best way to manage parental controls on Windows is to go all-in with Microsoft accounts-by which we mean get accounts set up for all the people in your family, and then use them to put limits on certain devices. These accounts can be linked in your Microsoft family group ( Microsoft explains this here), so you can keep tabs on your youngsters while still giving them their own spaces and their own sets of login credentials.

To get started, head to the Microsoft Family portal online, choose Create a family group, then follow the instructions. Inside Windows, you can then open Settings and pick Accounts, Family & other users, and Add a family member to connect an account-this then lets you put restrictions on the sort of content that can be downloaded, on which apps can be used and for how long, on in-app purchases that can be made, and more.

Your kids might have already made best friends with your Amazon Echo, but you can limit what they're able to do with it. This is managed via FreeTime, which you can set up on the web-once that's done, you can turn it on and off for individual devices by opening up the Alexa app on your phone, opening the app menu, and choosing Settings, Device Settings, and picking your speaker or display. The FreeTime option will be one of those listed.

You have a few more features to play around with as well. For example, from the Alexa app menu, tap Settings, Account Settings and Voice Purchasing to make sure a PIN code is always required when buying something through your Echo devices (just in case your kids try and make a huge Amazon order). You can also choose Settings, Music and Profanity Filter to ensure you don't hear anything unwholesome while music is playing.

If you've got Google Nest (also known as Google Home) speakers dotted around the place, then you can use the Family Link service mentioned above to put some limits on what your children are able to do-this gives your kids their own Google accounts, and when that's all set up, you'll be able to use the Google Home app on your phone to set which speakers are able to recognize your kids' voices, put limits on purchasing, and more.

Another option you can use instead of or as well as Family Link is Digital Wellbeing. You'll find this if you open the Google Home app on your phone, tap a Google speaker and then the cog icon (top right), and then choose Digital wellbeing: the options here include controls for managing which video and audio content can be brought up with voice commands, and even what times the device can be used (so your kids will go to bed).

For a long time Netflix has let you set up multiple profiles to keep your kids' viewing separate (open up Manage Profiles from the avatar menu to configure them), but now you can protect those profiles with a PIN code too. On the web, go to the avatar menu (top right corner), then choose Account-click your account name then Change next to Profile Lock to set a PIN. You can also apply this PIN protection for logins on new devices.

Prime Video has an excellent selection of kids content, and some handy parental control tools too. On the web, click your avatar then Manage profiles to make sure everyone in the household has their own space (and their own recommendations) on Prime Video. Back on the settings page, you can also choose Parental Controls to set up a PIN code to protect your account, and to put viewing restrictions on content only suitable for adults.

Like Netflix and Prime Video, Hulu lets you set up multiple profiles on the same account: the option is under Manage Profiles on the avatar menu (top right). When you create profiles specifically for youngsters, you automatically enable protections that stop them stumbling across unsuitable material, but at the moment there's no easy option (like Netflix's PIN code) of stopping kids from switching between profiles if they know how.

Disney Plus is the big newcomer in the field of streaming services, but it's hit the ground running as far as parental controls go: from the web interface, if you click your avatar (top right) then Edit profiles, you can specify that a profile is for a child, which will lock it to child-friendly content. As it stands, your kids can still switch between profiles fairly easily from the Disney Plus interface, if they know what they're doing.

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How to Child-Proof Your Tech During Lockdown

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More comprehensive parental controls for Android can be managed with the broader Family Link service that covers everything about a Google account- see here for details on how to set it up.

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Really cool game but not really safe for kids because you have to pay for cool stuff like skins if you want them, so they ask you to share your information.

by C.

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Educational Kids Games - Cyber Five Internet Safety Game

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In today's always-on world, disconnecting can be hard. Below you'll find four tips for hitting pause to help you strike a balance that feels right for you.

For many people, checking their phone right before going to sleep is routine. Experts Nick Allen and Natasha Bhuyan M.D. propose ways to find balance with tech.

1. Tip 01

Wind down for a better night's sleep

Creating space from your device at night can help you feel more relaxed and help you sleep better.

2. Tip 02

Step away from work when you want to

Creating space from work-related notifications can help you recharge while away from the office.

3. Tip 03

Put your smart speaker to good use

Use your smart speaker and Google Assistant to create moments away from your device.

4. Tip 04

Create device-free zones and times

Designate times of your day or spaces in your home to be device-free. Finding a central place to keep your phone can reduce the urge to check emails and notifications.

More tips

Explore more ways to fine-tune your tech habits

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Unplugging from technology | Digital Wellbeing | Google

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In today's always-on world, disconnecting can be hard. Below you'll find four tips for hitting pause to help you strike a balance that feels right for you. For many people, checking their phone right before going to sleep is routine. Experts Nick Allen and Natasha Bhuyan M.D.

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How to talk to kids about difficult subjects

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How to talk to kids about difficult subjects

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Great advice from commonsense media

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How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects

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In a world where even little kids learn about horrific subjects, it’s important for parents to put things in perspective, field questions, and search for answers together. Advice from Common Sense Media editors.

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I like Subway Surfers for when you are bored, but on the leaderboard you can see the names of people so try putting on me. Don't use your real name in games! 🙂
by D.

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February 11 2020
Safer Internet Day is a global campaign to educate children about Online Safety. Watch the video!

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Safer Internet Day 2020 - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Safer Internet Day is on the 11th February 2020! Safer Internet Day 2020 will be celebrated globally with the theme: Together for a better internet.

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Have you tried a body scan to take a screen break?

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Online safety guide for parents of 6 to 10 year-olds.

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Online safety guide for parents of 6 to 10 year-olds.

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supporting primary schoolers online

six to tens

`{`Music`}`

between the ages of six to ten it's

likely your child

might get their first connected device

perhaps a games console or a tablet

so take the time to have regular chats

with your child about their well-being

and safety online

this will help them develop coping

strategies to deal with online risks

and encourage them to make safer choices

`{`Music`}`

online

set up parental controls on your home

broadband as well as any

internet-enabled devices that your child

has access to

our setup safe parental control guides

will walk you through the steps

so you can get set up in just a few

minutes don't forget to check that any

online accounts are password protected

if you're concerned about the time your

child spends online

many devices and apps will have inbuilt

controls to help you set limits

on when they should be using them and

for how long ensure your child maintains

a good balance of online and offline

activities

and that their online activities are

positive and have purpose

it's helpful to agree some rules with

your child to encourage them to develop

good digital habits for the future

if you're looking to give them their own

devices choose ones that offer

child-friendly content and tailored

parental controls to give them a safer

space to explore online

don't forget that gaming consoles also

offer internet access

so it's important to set parental

controls

be involved with your child's internet

use this will make it easier for you to

advise them on issues they might

experience

and for them to share concerns about

anything that may upset them

encourage them to question what they see

online to build their critical thinking

create a user account for your child

that only allows access to the sites and

apps you've chosen

you could also set your home page to a

child-friendly site

such as an educational site like bbc

bite size

or a safe search engine like swiggle

activate

safe search settings on sites like

google and youtube

and encourage them to use child friendly

apps like youtube kids

many popular games involve playing

online with others

so be aware that your child may be

creating an online presence

age ratings on games and apps are a

helpful way of establishing if they are

age appropriate

and use the strictest privacy settings

if they're playing free to play games

make sure to set a password on your app

store account to restrict

in-app purchases and avoid getting

caught out with a big bill

as soon as they can share and interact

with others online

talk about what information they should

and shouldn't share

discuss what it means to be a good

digital citizen

and emphasize the importance of

developing a good digital footprint

some children may find themselves

bullying or being bullied online

so it's important to talk to them about

being a good friend online and where to

get support if they need it

remind them that they can talk to you or

a trusted adult if they have any

concerns

because safety on the internet matters

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Online safety advice for 6-10 year olds | Internet Matters

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supporting primary schoolers online six to tens `{`Music`}` between the ages of six to ten it's likely your child might get their first connected device perhaps a games console or a tablet so take the time to have regular chats with your child about their well-being and safety online this

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Good things:
Cross platform play
PVE mode for more relaxed players
Cheat detector

Bad things:
You can rage at it/players
In-game purchases
Mean people insulting you

What can you do to stay safe on Fortnite?
- don't buy anything
- tell an adult if someone insults you

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Keeping your personal information safe - Episode 3 - It's a serious game

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Get your kids moving, even if they are indoors!

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Common Sense Media editors help you choose Movement Apps, Games, and Websites. These great picks make all the right moves.

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Online safety tips for parents of 0 to 5 year-olds.

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Online safety tips for parents of 0 to 5 year-olds.

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https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/0-5/

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Fortnite is my favourite game by far!
PROS:
- In Fortnite you can play with your friends forming a team together. You can also talk to your friends while playing.
- Fortnite is also a good interactive game because you can play in "Creative" where you can build obstacle courses.

CONS:
- In the lobby random players can join and in the chat they can say bad things to you.
- Hackers can crack the system  and use your account, and thus your money, to buy stuff for themselves.

By: Thomas

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Tips and resources: Balance screen time with outdoor play

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Tips and resources: Balance screen time with outdoor play

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(Informative Australian website)

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THE ISSUE

Excessive screen time is a significant detriment to children's health, and has been linked to lower physical activity rates, and higher rates of depression and diabetes, consumption of unhealthy foods, lower cardiovascular fitness, lower academic achievement and reductions in time spent with family ( see Research information below).

While the correlation between excessive screen and reduced health is broadly understood in the community, modern families continue to struggle with effectively managing screen time.

The predominant advice provided for parents on screen-time is, at its heart, prohibitionist - 'just say no to technology". This approach has not worked and device ownership and screen use rates continue to rise among QLD children.

Modern children have grown up in a technological age and asking them to abstain from using that technology is tantamount to asking them to opt out of the culture they were born into, of which they are a part. This is, we believe, an unrealistic, if not unfair, request.

NATURE PLAY QLD's POSITION

At Nature Play QLD we believe QLD families will benefit from more balanced advice than the "just say no" norm.

Our approach begins from these core- premises:

1. Some level of screen time is a given for modern children, and it is not going away

2. "Just say no to technology" is an ineffective call to action

3. Screen time is not, in itself, dangerous/negative

4. The primary dangers of screen time are that it can lead to:

excessive sedentary (sitting) time

the displacement of positive behaviors/opportunities

5. Technology can be an ally for health

6. Parents are looking for practical advice

OUR ADVICE

The advice we propose has three strategies: REDUCE, REPLACE and BALANCE

REDUCE

Work with your kids to reduce screen time (yours and theirs). Even a little bit helps.

Set screen rules

Designate non-screen time

Avoid having screens in bedrooms

Parents should model screen discipline

REPLACE

Find technologies that are fun and active to replace sedentary technologies.
Examples: APPS

Nature Passport (mobile app Apple, Android)

Pokemon Go (Mobile app: Apple and Android)

Geocaching (Mobile app: Apple and Android)

VIDEO GAMES

Wii fit U (Wii U)

Just Dance (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii)

Shape up (Xbox One)

BALANCE

Balance sedentary screen time with equal or greater green time (active, and or, imaginative outdoor play).

If your kid loves Minecraft, that's OK, but the more you let them play computer games, the more time you'll need to find to balance the ledger with outdoor play.
Examples:

Playing with friends at the park

Sports

Throwing, or kicking a ball, with a parent

Dance

Walking the dog

Use this great resource for inspiration!

We've put together a comprehensive list of the research that backs our mission and our work. Read the scientific studies supporting our efforts to get kids outside in child lead play more often...
Optometrists warn myopia a 'looming epidemic' for screen-addicted children Screen Time for Australian Children - By The Numbers Handheld Screen Time Linked With Speech Delays in Young Children Excess screen time leads to autism-like traits, including poorer quality friendships and fewer social skills Lifelong Residential Exposure to Green Space and Attention Beyond Blue to Green Physical Activity Report Card Think outside the Xbox Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (birth to 5 years)
More Inspiration

Want some more tips on getting the balance of screen time and green time right? Here's a selection of Nature Play QLD programs and information from our partners, supporters and friends to get you started...

Nature Play QLD Resources:
Green Time vs Screen Time Tool Nature Playlists With infants and toddlers Fun in the sun Neighbourhood Nature Play
Nature Passport Outdoor App

Nature Passport has a large, and growing, suite of outdoor activities including scavenger hunts, micro-hikes, a mud-pie food fight, cubby building, and bug hunts. Users collect badges, do team activities, and record pictures, notes, and audio from their adventures in a digital journal.

The app also has a safari feature that allows users to record animals and species, have them identified by naturalists, and added to one of the world's largest citizen science projects (iNaturalist).

DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE
DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID
Nature Play GROW App

Designed for parents and carers of children 0 - 3 years old, and early childhood professionals, GROW with Nature Play has age appropriate play lists that can help their child GROW during the important formative years of a child's life, in their:

Development

Health and wellbeing

Confidence

Curiosity

and Family Bonds

DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID

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Excessive screen time is a significant detriment to children's health, and has been linked to lower physical activity rates, and higher rates of depression and diabetes, consumption of unhealthy foods, lower cardiovascular fitness, lower academic achievement and reductions in time spent with family ( see Research information below).