Giving Devices as Gifts: Security Tips for Parents

As the holiday season approaches, many parents and guardians are eager to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Among the popular items on children's wish lists are various devices such as tablets, smartphones, and game consoles. While the idea of gifting the latest technology to your child can be exciting, it's crucial to think about their online safety beforehand.

To ensure a memorable and safe experience for your child (or whoever may be receiving the gift), it's essential to prepare adequately before handing over any new device. From researching the device to setting it up before giving the gift, and fostering open communication with your young one, you can make informed decisions about their online activity. By following these guidelines, you will not only provide a wonderful gift but also promote a secure experience for your child.

Key Takeaways

• Prepare for the new device by researching and setting it up in advance.
• Don't rely on default settings to ensure online safety.
• Establish a family agreement and maintain open communication with your child.

Investigate the Device

Utilize search engines to explore opinions from parents and guardians about the device your child desires and its impact on others. Consult with your acquaintances or others during school runs for additional viewpoints.

Common Sense Media assesses games, apps, and services, assisting you in determining their suitability for your child.

After selecting a device, examine the available parental controls and privacy settings to ensure online safety, manage internet and app usage, and mitigate technology risks such as exposure to inappropriate content or social media sites.

Set up the device ahead of your child opening it

Ensuring the most secure and worry-free experience for your child starts with preparing the device before giving it to them. Familiarize yourself with the tablet, phone or console, and set up safety settings and parental controls to your satisfaction.

When handing down a second-hand device, make sure to reset it to factory settings, removing any pre-existing apps and settings.

For Android devices, you can manage content restrictions in Google Play to control what can be downloaded. On Apple devices, go to Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time to block and limit specific apps, restrict explicit content, and manage purchases and downloads.

While setting up parental controls is essential to your child's online safety, remember that open communication with your child is equally important. To further explore parental controls, consider visiting relevant web pages and creating a Childnet Family Agreement for clear guidelines and expectations.

Don't Presume Default Settings Offer Maximum Security

When gifting devices this holiday season, it's crucial to consider the online safety of your loved ones, particularly parents and caregivers. Default settings on new devices might not offer the highest level of security, so it's essential to go through them and make adjustments as needed. As we explain in why default cybersecurity settings are dangerous, out-of-the-box configurations are designed for convenience, not protection.

• Double-check privacy settings: Ensure that the privacy settings are adjusted according to your preference, limiting access to personal information and enhancing overall safety.
• Enable parental controls: Many devices come with parental control features, but they may not be activated by default. Make sure to turn these on to restrict inappropriate content and monitor usage.
• App safety: Carefully examine the default apps, as some may include in-app purchases or collect personal information by default. Adjust their settings or uninstall them if needed.
• Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication: Create strong, unique passwords for every device and account, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to provide an additional layer of security.
• Software updates: Ensure all devices are up to date with the latest software and security patches. This helps prevent potential vulnerabilities and keeps devices protected.

Taking the time to verify and adjust default settings on gifted devices will dramatically enhance the online safety of your family and loved ones.

Establish a Family Agreement

Creating a family agreement aids in defining limitations and setting expectations regarding your family's device usage. It encourages discussions about internet utilization among family members. As technology evolves and new devices enter your household, it's essential to update the agreement accordingly.

When your child obtains a new device, consider revising the agreement to clearly outline usage rules, including location, duration, and guidelines for app downloads or purchases. This helps maintain boundaries and ensures quality time with family.

• Usage rules: Spell out where, when, and how long the new device can be used.
• Shared expectations: Agree on the rules together so everyone understands them.
• Living document: Update the agreement as technology and household devices change.
• Clear boundaries: Set guidelines for app downloads, purchases, and screen time.
• Quality time: Keep a healthy balance between technology and family interaction.

Having a Conversation

When guiding your child through the digital world, it's crucial to ensure they understand the importance of approaching you for assistance when faced with unfamiliar or troubling content. Despite enabling parental controls, no system is entirely foolproof. That's why preparing your child to handle unwanted content is essential.

Consider incorporating these useful tips to better equip your child:

• Teach them to use "report" and "block" tools effectively
• Show how to turn off the device and seek help from a trusted adult

One of the keys to building trust is to engage in regular conversations with your child about their online activities. Approach these discussions with curiosity rather than anger; if they feel comfortable and confident, they will turn to you with any issues they encounter. Some ideas to strike up a conversation with your child include:

• Asking about their favorite apps and websites.
• Requesting their help with an online task.

By fostering open communication, you can help ensure your child's safety online.

Don't Allow Unsecured Gadgets to Put Your Family at Risk

When giving devices as gifts this holiday season, it's essential to consider the online safety of your family members. As a parent or caregiver, consider following the precautionary measures listed above to ensure a secure digital experience. By following these guidelines, you are taking necessary steps to safeguard your family's online safety while enjoying the benefits of modern technology over the holidays.

For more practical guidance, browse our security and IT articles, and if you have students in the house, see our tips on preparing for a cyber-safe school year.

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