Watch Now: Expert tech tips for back to school and online safety
Need help setting boundaries and parental controls on your kid’s devices when they go back to school (or before)? Get online safety and tech tips from the experts.
Full Transparency
Our editorial transparency tool uses blockchain technology to permanently log all changes made to official releases after publication. However, this post is not an official release and therefore not tracked. Visit our learn more for more information.
Today’s parents face a growing concern: How can they keep their kids safe in a world where technology is everywhere? This is top-of-mind during the back-to-school season, but online safety—and how to guide their use of devices in the best way—is important year-round.
That’s why Verizon and Macaroni KID brought together experts in tech, online safety and digital parenting for a livestreamed panel discussion. The goal: to share much-needed advice to help parents guide their kids in a world where tech presents exciting new opportunities but requires careful guidance and protection.
Four important takeaways from the discussion:
Talk early and often. It’s important to start talking with kids about digital habits and online safety at an early age—even before they get their first device.
Parental controls can help. It’s crucial to set up devices with strong parental controls. But kids also need help in developing critical-thinking skills about online interactions, even with parental controls in place.
Boundaries depend on maturity. The panel addressed the trend of younger children—some as young as 8 years old—receiving smartphones.
Conversations matter. By maintaining an open dialogue and building trust, parents can better prepare their children to handle both the opportunities and the risks that come with modern technology as they head back to school.
The livestream covers these details and more, including multiplayer gaming, online safety and what to do with those school-supplied devices, to provide a comprehensive guide for parents in the digital age.
Watch a Facebook replay of the livestream here, or at the top of this article.
Featured experts:
George Koroneos—Verizon’s resident tech expert
Cathy Pedrayes—digital and physical safety
Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov—children’s online rights
Ethan Arenson—Verizon’s head of digital safety
Links to resources mentioned in the livestream:
Get the tech that puts your family’s safety first.
