Types of Internet Content- Reasons Why Parents Use Parental Controls

The internet is an outstanding tool for kids and is very useful for searching for educational materials. However, it can expose your child to many dangers; parents should consider monitoring kids online to enhance their safety. But the question still lingers, what are the common types of harmful information online? Read on to find out.

1. Adult humor

It’s a common notion that fun is the best medicine. However, it should be age-appropriate. When you block specific sites, you hinder your kid from getting exposed to adult humor. Although not all types of fun are harmful to your child, some contain nude people or other pornographic images/content. So, allow your child to view what’s appropriate and use internet parental controls as a way of monitoring kids online.

2. Video games

There are various types of sports online, but not all are safe for kids. Some are educational and are useful for your child’s development. Others are inappropriate for kids of certain ages; this is because they contain content that’s appropriate for adults.

More so, online gaming can also expose your child to online predators and bullies who pretend to be gamers. Therefore, if your child uses their phone to play online games suitable for adults, learn how to track your child’s internet activity on iPhone or search for “sell my iPhone 7” and get rid of that phone. Some online website are developed to help people like you get rid of their old phones or any phone when a need arises. Thus, by selling their phone, they won’t play anymore and will be safer.

Related read: How to Buy Your Kids Their First Phone

3. Online gambling

It’s easier for kids to access online gambling sites to creep into offline casinos. For this reason, the number of kids who gamble has significantly increased. While the minimum gambling age varies from a country to the other, it’s almost illegal for minors to engage in gambling.

Gambling online exposes your child to many online threats. They can easily fall prey to predators or even download harmful content while online. And this makes parental control software essential for all parents.

Final thoughts:

There are different types of content online. As a parent, you should know what’s appropriate for your child’s age. If you feel that some of the information is harmful to them, devise ways of monitoring kids online.

Here is an infographic developed after good research (all sources mentioned). It covers the risks involved with the usage of dangerous apps by kids, the level of impact they can have on kids and ways to protect kids from dangerous apps.

Most Dangerous Apps for Kids. Worried about your childs online safety? Here we have some most dangerous apps to watch out for in your kids phones. After School App- Warning Level: Delete. This chat app allows students to connect from the same school. Users can download and join the conversation anonymously. They can post photos or videos anonymously which can lead to cyberbullying. Why is it dangerous? Users are anonymous. Potential for cyberbullying. ASKfm - Ask Me Anonymous Questions App. Warning Level: Delete. This app provides a question & answer format. Users can interact via Q&A with friends and anonymous users. This app is the reason for lots of suicides until now. Why ASKfm app is dangerous? Users are anonymous. Linked to many suicides. App for cyberbullying. Lack of monitoring. BIGO LIVE - Live Stream, Live Video & Live Chat App. Warning Level: Delete. This app lets users stream live video of themselves. Other users can watch and comment on the live video. Additionally, users receive & send "beans", virtual gifts that cost real money. Why BIGO LIVE app is dangerous? Teens stream live video. Gifts cost real money. Potential for cyberbullying. Heavy on your credit card. HOLLA: Live Random Video Chat, Meet New People. Warning Level: Delete. Holla app allows users to video chat with any random stranger and users never know what they are going to see on the screen when they go to the next chat, this makes the app very risky. Why is it dangerous? Users are anonymous. Nudity is common. Linked to violence. Hidden dangers for teens. Whisper App. Warning Level: Delete. Whisper is a confession app, with no age verification and no registration of any kind. Users can download and start posting - this level of anonymous working makes it very risky. Why is it dangerous? Risky anonymous features. Online child sex offenders. Location-based grouping. Contact with Predators. Snapchat App. Warning Level: Caution. Snapchat is a popular photo-sharing and messaging app among teens. It can send snaps that disappear in 10 seconds or less. It gives a false sense of security and encourages to send something risky. Why is Snapchat app dangerous? Adult content present. Probability of nudity. Linked to cyberbullying. Hidden dangers for teens. Guidelines for a Safe App: There are certain things you should be aware of for all of the apps on your kids phone, even relatively benign ones. Let's look at those: Must have age verification so kids don't sign up on adult apps. The app should filter adult and dangerous content. The app should not have location access to the child. Safe apps should not have access to media files and contacts list. There should not be any in-app purchases in apps for kids. Most importantly the app should not have access to any passwords. Ways to Protect Kids From Dangerous Apps: Activity Monitoring apps. Approve every app. Check their privacy settings. Set up Parental Controls. To keep your children safe you have to monitor their phone activity. Have knowledge of their apps and teach them how to manage their digital life.

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