Five tech tools to keep your children safe online

The digital landscape has transformed drastically, with children now exposed to a plethora of tech tools from a young age. While these advancements offer numerous benefits, they also present significant risks, particularly in the realm of online safety. Recent studies show that children often begin using smartphones and engaging with digital platforms even before pre-adolescence, driven by factors such as digital learning, social connection, and parental reliance.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, this increased digital engagement has never been greater, often occurring without the awareness of parents. With the rise of artificial intelligence and various digital interactions, children are increasingly exposed to content and individuals that can pose serious threats to their safety and well-being.

From smart toys and voice assistants to video games, chatbots, and learning apps, AI has become an integral part of children's everyday lives. However, these digital exposures also increase the risk of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as misleading commercial practices. Perpetrators can easily contact and manipulate children, potentially leading to offline abuse.

Moreover, the proliferation of explicit material and the manipulation of online platforms can further endanger children. Educationist Austin Ogar emphasizes the importance of using tech tools to safeguard children from these online dangers, highlighting the need for parents to be aware of such protective measures. Several tech tools have emerged to help parents monitor and control their children's online activities.

Google Family Link, a free parental control app, allows parents to set daily screen time limits, establish device bedtime schedules, and restrict access to mature content and age-inappropriate apps. Net Nanny utilizes AI-powered real-time content analysis to block inappropriate material and set daily limits and bedtime hours for internet access.

Qustodio helps parents monitor social media accounts, check web history, and track the physical location of devices in real time, providing detailed reports on screen time, websites visited, and apps used. Bark is an alert-based digital safety platform that scans various digital communications for signs of cyberbullying, depression, and dangerous predators, sending immediate alerts to parents.

Lastly, Mobicip is a subscription-based app that allows parents to supervise online activity, manage screen time, and enforce safer internet use through customisable content filters. These tech tools provide essential support for parents in navigating the complexities of the digital world and ensuring their children's safety in an increasingly interconnected environment.