If you’re giving the gift of an iPod Touch or a mobile phone this year, they are incredibly powerful devices due to the amount of content that can be easily accessed. Last year when I attended the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) Annual Conference, CEO Stephen Balkam talked about how for $200, kids could go into a store and purchase this mobile device with limitless content.
I recently interviewed Stephen and asked him about everything from the power of mobile content on iPods, keeping kids safe on Facebook, the right age for a cell phone, monitoring screen time and online friendships (especially over winter break), and the best way to model digital citizenship.
Stephen’s responses were fantastic and rather than present them all at once, I’m going to share one a day over the course of the week.
Today’s topic? Mobile safety on iPod Touches and cell phones!
Tech Savvy Mama: Last year at FOSI’s Annual Conference I remember you talking about how the iPod Touch was a highly powerful mobile device because of the type of content that could be accessed. With many parents putting iPod Touches under the tree, what recommendations do you have for them about mobile safety?
Stephen Balkam: It really comes down to communication and fostering an open exchange. First, parents need to discuss with their kids the ramifications of downloading an app or accessing a certain site. Even young kids can understand at some level that mobile devices store personal information and that personal information can get sent other places.
Besides that, remember that parental controls are a good backup. Look into which controls are available. Most devices allow you to lock certain apps or restrict capabilities including placing time limits or placing a block on downloading apps or accessing certain websites
Given that the holidays are a time when kids will probably receive digital devices, it’s an incredibly important time for parents to visit or revisit the online safety discussion. FOSI provides a safety contract for both parents and kids that we think is extremely useful in beginning the discussion. The contract is available in English and Spanish at http://www.fosi.org/resources/internet-safety-resources-for-parents.html. You’ll also find our top Internet safety tips for parents and kids available there.
This is part of a series of posts from an interview with Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. Additional topics to follow this week include:
- Strategies parents can use to help keep kids safer on Facebook
- Factors to consider if you’re thinking about giving your child a cell phone
- Advice for monitoring screen time and tips for online gaming
- Ways to model digital citizenship.
No compensation was received for this post or those to come through the series.
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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