Supervision, explaining its use, taking care of privacy, taking an interest in their virtual hobbies… are some of the guidelines for the arrival of the new tool in their hands.
The Spanish Agency for Data Protection (AEPD) and UNICEF offer ten tips to take into account for families who want to give their children a mobile phone, alleging the responsibility and maturity of both the minor and the parents.
1- First of all, it is recommended to plan the arrival of the ‘smartphone’ so that children understand why they are going to have a device with these characteristics and what it implies. Therefore, when giving a cell phone, the family must assess the degree of maturity of the minor. You can even sign a family contract for the good use of the phone, which details what applications or websites you can use, who you can call, the daily or weekly time limit, etc.
2- Secondly, they insist on the need to Supervise and setting rules and limits, since it is important that the mobile phone does not distract from other tasks or activities relevant to the minor, such as sleeping, studying or socializing ‘offline’. For this, parental control software is a useful tool.
3- It is also important that children understand the need to take care of your data on social networks and the possible consequences of not doing so. Configuring the profile of the social network in question to limit its public nature, configure who can see the publications or choose the information of the minor user published in the profile, is basic.
4- Be interested in the video game of children, which is a method of entertainment, socialization and learning. Thus, minors can be guided to apply the same precautions as in conventional social networks and to choose games appropriate to their age and maturity.
5- Know who you communicate with the minor through video games or social networks. From respect for privacy, parents must be interested in these issues and teach that personal information or photographs should not be shared with strangers. Thus, situations of cyberbullying, blackmail or ‘grooming’ -practice of sexual cyberbullying of an adult to a minor- will be avoided.
6- You should not share the information of the place of residencethe school where they study or any other information that allows the minor to be located in the real world.
7- Stimulate the critical sense of adolescents and remember that decisions on the Internet also have consequences in real life. Therefore, it must be understood that the information of other people cannot be shared or used without their consent.
8- Parents must act as an example in front of their children behaving on the Internet as they want them to. They have also recalled that they are civilly liable for damages caused by infractions by their minor children.
9- Guarantee a disconnection space for children. Keep tech free moments to benefit their development. It is also a way to generate more careful and active personal relationships.
10- observe how you feel the smallest in its digital area. For example, try to identify possible situations that affect physical or mental well-being.
Source: Eitb
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.