KANOKLA TIPS
As the new school year approaches, parents across our communities are preparing for the back-to-school rush. Along with shopping for supplies and organizing schedules, it’s crucial to ensure that children are safe online. Children have more access to computers and mobile devices than ever before. We love technology and know it is a powerful tool for learning, but it does come with risks. Cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators are just a few of the dangers that can lurk in the digital world. By taking these proactive steps, you can help safeguard your children from these threats.
1. Educate Your Children: Teach your kids about the importance of online safety. Explain the potential dangers and encourage them to come to you if they encounter anything uncomfortable or suspicious online.
2. Set Ground Rules: Establish clear guidelines for internet use, such as which websites they can visit, how much time they can spend online, and what information they should never share.
This includes:
• Where they attend school
• Their home address
• Their cell phone number
• Their email addresses
• Their full legal name
• Any banking or payment information
• Passwords
• Their social security number
3. Monitor Online Activity: Keep an eye on your child’s internet use. This doesn’t mean hovering over their shoulder, but regularly checking in on what they’re doing and whom they’re interacting with online.
Use Parental Controls: Take advantage of parental control features to manage and monitor your child’s online activity. There are many options out there, and we offer parental control features built into the router we offer with our Managed Network service. ExperienceIQ is a free add-on to our GIG plans, or can be added to any plan for $5/month.
4. Secure Your Network: Ensure that your home network is secure. The first step is to use strong, unique passwords for your WIFI and online accounts and update them regularly. We recommend that you take it further and utilize our ProtectIQ feature built into our Kanokla router. ProtectIQ is a free add-on to our GIG plans, or can be added to any plan for $5/month.
5. Keep talking: Make sure your children feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns or questions about their online experiences. An open line of communication can help you address potential issues before they escalate.
