Let’s face it, the digital universe has changed a lot since the ‘90s and early aughts. As kids, we sent covered wagons to Oregon, and when we got older, we spent hours downloading music on Napster and rotating our top 10 friends on MySpace. We didn’t come of age with unlimited access to user-generated videos, dozens of social media apps, or search engines that can provide information about pretty much anything. Kids growing up in today’s tech-driven world have an alarmingly vast amount of options regarding what they can view on the internet or what (and who) they come across in apps and online games like Roblox and Minecraft.
It’s overwhelming, to say the least, and mostly unmonitored because there’s just too much to keep track of, which is why its effect on young users is becoming increasingly harmful. As Stacey Stare Cohen explains in Forbes, “More than 50% of tweens (kids ages 10 to 12) have been exposed to inappropriate online content. Inappropriate content can include everything from hate speech and vulgar language to violent and sexually explicit language, images, and videos.”
As parents, how do we navigate the online world? It’s no easy feat, but the good news is that when it comes to online safety for kids, we can look to experts in the field for help. In a recent Instagram post, Brittany Thompson, a mom who also happens to be the National Director of Social Media at Safe Haven Security Services, LLC, lists three things she never allows her kids to do online.
Rule #1: YouTube is only allowed on the family TV in the living room.
YouTube is a tricky one. Yes, it’s got a ton of amazing content on everything from science videos to DIY tutorials and even original series. The problem is that it’s user-generated content, which means people can upload what they want when they want, however frequently they want, and a lot of that isn’t age-appropriate for children. Even YouTube Kids, with its protections and filters, has some issues with adult content slipping through the cracks. There’s also the matter of the algorithm serving up videos based on past habits so that a single wrong turn can lead to your kid being shown more and more inappropriate content.
With the endless scrolling capabilities, kids might stumble across videos they have no business seeing; as parents, we have to be diligent about monitoring what they see on the platform. This is why Thompson’s first rule about online safety for kids is so important. She allows her kids to watch YouTube and YouTubeKids, but only when she’s within hearing range. She also has a list of approved YouTubers, and if her kids get caught watching something that’s not on the list, they lose the right to watch YouTube.
Common Sense Media has a great guide for navigating YouTube Kids and we’ve got a list of the best YouTube channels for kids.
Rule #2: The chat option on games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite is turned off.
Interactive gaming is huge for kids these days for a good reason—it’s fun! But children are playing with thousands of other people, of whom 99% are strangers, and games like Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite have chat options that allow gamers to converse about anything. If not monitored, chat rooms and private messaging open a door for unknown and sometimes tricky people to engage with young kids. Thompson has a firm stance on turning off the chat option. “I think we have two family members they’re allowed to talk to on the mic. But other than that, that’s it,” she says.
Rule #3: Search engines are removed or turned off on devices.
Yes, you can take Chrome or Safari off a device. Kids don’t need unfettered access to the internet—period. If they’ve got parent-approved apps, games, and streaming platforms, there’s absolutely no reason they need to be in a browser.
There’s nothing wrong with letting your kids be online, whether they watch videos or play games. It’s about knowing the dangers of what’s out there and having the right tools and features to protect them.
“I’ve been in this field for long enough and seen enough things that those are three things I am not willing to bend on,” says Thompson. Sounds like a plan!
If you’re curious about social media platforms and online games, here’s what to do if your child wants a social media account, and here’s our ultimate guide to Roblox for kids.
