Smart home devices make life easier. Kids can ask Alexa or Siri to play a song, help with a question, or tell them the weather. But smart devices can also create safety risks. Hackers can sometimes access phones, computers and smart home devices. Kids may be more likely to share personal information, click on unsafe links, or download something they should not. The good news? There are simple steps parents can take to help keep kids safe.1
- Turn Off Voice Commands When You Can: Voice assistants are fun and helpful, but they can also let kids access websites, apps, and other content you may not want them to see. Turn off the microphone when not using voice commands.
- Protect Purchases With a PIN: Some smart devices let people buy things with voice commands. That may be convenient for adults, but it can be a problem if a child accidentally orders something. Set up a PIN for purchases. You can also turn off voice purchasing if you do not need it.
- Delete Saved Voice Recordings: Some smart devices save voice recordings to help them understand commands better. Check what your device has saved, and delete old recordings. You can usually find these controls in your device or app settings. Look for sections called History, Privacy, or Voice Recordings.
- Make Your Wi-Fi Password Strong: Your Wi-Fi router connects many of your devices to the internet. That makes it an important part of your family’s online safety. Change the Wi-Fi name and password often, and use a strong password.
- Turn Off Smart Device Cameras: Some smart home devices have cameras, such as smart displays and baby monitors. When you do not need a camera, turn it off. For example, you can turn off a baby monitor when your child is not in the room.
- Talk to Your Kids About Online Safety: Technology changes quickly, but one safety rule never gets old: Talk to your kids. Teach them not to share personal information online, such as: full name, home address, school name, phone number, passwords and photos that show private information. Also remind them not to talk to strangers online or click on links they do not recognize.
Smart home devices can be useful and fun. Your kids can still dance to their favorite songs, ask questions, and enjoy the technology they love. The goal is not to keep kids away from technology. It is to teach them how to use it safely. Ready to make your smart home safer? Start today by checking your family’s smart devices.1
Turn off features you do not need, update your passwords, review your privacy settings, and talk with your kids about staying safe online. A few minutes today can help your family build safer technology habits for years to come. If you are interested in becoming an Advocate for the Innocent member and gaining access to our Resource Center ($10/month or $99/annually), visit https://advocatefortheinnocent.org/memberships/.
1 – https://savvycyberkids.org/2020/04/15/5-ways-to-protect-your-kids-when-they-use-iot-products/
2 – Image by macrovector by Freepik/Magnific