Waylon Cunningham

It’s hard to believe, but summer break has come to an end, and many East Texas schools are already back in session. And as parents and teachers get back in the swing of things, BBB wants to help you help your children stay safe and provides the following tips to help ensure your safety and the safety of those you love.

“Online safety is just one of the many challenges parents have to face,” said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Central East Texas. ”When the parents are savvy, their children have a better chance of navigating safely in our highly connected environment.”

BBB advises parents to be watchful for the following:

Creating accounts on websites without permission. Social media sites are ripe with strangers with intentions that may be quite different than yours. Many sites are designed to collect and sell unauthorized user details and behaviors to advertisers seeking targeted marketing. When creating an account, some kids may falsely create a birthdate to meet the minimum age requirement. Know what your child is doing online, and keep track of the social media sites and accounts to which they have access.

Contests and giveaways. Contests and giveaways often collect a hefty amount of personal information on their entry forms. Many are thinly disguised ways of collecting personal or financial information that could lead to identity theft. Ensure your child doesn’t have access to banking or credit card information, and supervise the filling out of any forms.

Phishing. Adults are not the only ones who receive spam and junk mail. Kids often get junk mail, and since they don’t have much online experience, they are more susceptible to clicking on links and answering questions they probably shouldn’t. While some emails may be legitimate, the last thing parents want, or need, is a $500 bill from a fraudulent website where a purchase may have been made- or worse, giving up personal information that can be tracked back to your home.

Understand how apps work. Short for “applications,” apps are downloaded software that operates on various devices, such as smartphones. However, certain apps might collect and share personal information about your child or target your child with ads. Even free apps may include paid features, and children may not understand that some apps or game features cost money since they were labeled free to download. They may click on these so-called free games and cost parents or guardians a hefty bill at the end of the month.

File sharing sites. Many websites allow children to download free media. A child may not realize that these sites often come with the risk of downloading a virus, allowing identity thieves to access the gaming device, personal computer, or cell phone which is being used. From there, the cyberthief can track financial transactions, and physical location, or even tap into the household WIFI without anyone knowing it.

It’s also important for parents to set up parental controls which are available on most phones and web browsers and teach their children about how to share with care, so that they are not victimized by online predators.