Guardians of the Digital Playground: Navigating Cybersecurity for Kids in the Modern Age

by Alexander Esquivel, Staff Security QA at Growth Acceleration Partners.

Technology is everywhere in today’s world, and it doesn’t stop — we are used to working with computers for a whole day. We are connected to the Internet permanently, receiving emails, having messaging applications to communicate with coworkers, and using WhatsApp to talk with family and friends. We might have subscription services for watching television, listening to music, reading books, podcasts and playing video games, among others. Yet, we don’t stop for a moment to think about how to protect children from cyberspace dangers they might be exposed to.

This is a common concern many people share, as it not only applies to people with kids, but also for sisters, brothers and other family members like nephews and nieces… even close friends with children. The fact is, no one ever thinks about the risks until having a child around who is using the Internet, and probably without even knowing it can be a dangerous place.

I experienced this feeling right after the moment I knew I was going to become a dad. I am a software testing engineer who entered the cybersecurity industry by testing threat detection and response software, so technology and how to stay protected is part of my everyday life. But let me tell you, now that I have two kids, I realized it is not as simple as I thought. I have learned a lot from my recent years with them, and that’s exactly what I want to share with you.

In the next lines, I’m summarizing what I consider to be the most important tips for teaching kids how to use technology, and promote a good and healthy relationship with the Internet and mobile devices.

Your Pre-Defined Plan Might Just Be Obsolete

I thought I was not going to give my son a smartphone until he was 18 years old, just like my parents did with me. (Although it was far from a smartphone, but rather, a nice Nokia brick from the 2000s). The same happens with computers and other rules, like not giving them internet access outside home to avoid them accessing inappropriate content. The problem is, there is always a friend at school who will have unrestricted access and it will be impossible for us to have control over that situation. So, sooner or later, you will need to have a serious conversation with youngsters around you.

Here are my top 3 pieces of advice:

1. Start this conversation about cybersecurity with your kids, the sooner the better. The idea is to let them know the Internet is an open space for both good and bad people. (Keep using simple language a child can understand; there’s no need to mention pedophile organizations exist and operate in the dark web.) Just make sure they understand there’s also bad actors and cybercrime everywhere, and they know kids and teenagers are probably not taking appropriate security measures. Explain to them what personal information is and why it is important to keep it private. This includes their full name, address, phone number and even the school they go to. And as well as avoiding taking candy from strangers in real life, they must avoid accepting friend requests and messages from strangers online. Clicking the wrong link or downloading the wrong file can put their device and personal information at risk.
2. Avoid having total control. The idea is they feel free to make informed decisions on how to stay safe. I totally recommend going through the whole setup for creating an account according to their real age. Google Family Link lets you assign a tutor or parent for a child under 13, and manage their access to Google products including YouTube, application installation and services, content restrictions and screen time, among other useful features. Apple family sharing offers similar features for iOS and Mac.
3. Keep an open communication. Have a “safe zone” so the kids can express themselves and make mistakes. Let them know it is ok to come to you with any concerns — even if they did something that feels wrong — so you can take appropriate action, such as taking down already published content over social media or video sharing content platforms.

Following these steps is like having training wheels on a bike, until they learn to ride on their own, so you can help your kids navigate the online world safely. Hopefully these tips are helpful to you as they were for me.