On February 8, Internet users around the world observe the annual “Safer Internet Day” to increase awareness on ways to make Internet safety a top priority for adults and children.
With cybercrime costing businesses and Internet users at all levels more than $6 trillion in 2021, we know it takes everyone to help keep us safe in an evolving digital world. The first step is to ensure your Internet provider has tools in place to help keep you safe.
Xfinity xFi was designed to provide simple tools to help our customers see and control all connections to their home WiFi network,” said David Salazar, Vice President of Xfinity Sales and Marketing, Comcast Mountain West Region. “Because parents know how hard it is to monitor online time every day, they love using Xfinity xFi to easily manage their children’s device time.”
With a few simple steps, parents set a limit on device connectivity. Once that limit is reached, the device pauses connections to the home WiFi network, giving parents peace of mind even when they are not at home.
It doesn’t stop there. Another tool to make the Internet safer for families is Common Sense Media, which offers ratings and reviews for TV shows, movies, games, and apps so parents can be informed long before shows and games begin.
Sometimes face-to-face talks are the best way to educate and influence children. As hesitant as some parents may be, it’s never too early to talk to children and teens about Internet safety. To help, Comcast provides access to information created by Dr. Michael Rich at the Center on Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital Boston. Known as The Mediatrician, Rich developed age-based conversation starters so parents can address these critical topics.
Many parents feel their kids know much more about technology than they do, so they give kids free rein online,” Rich said. “But even when kids are better at operating the technology, that doesn’t mean they know how to interact with others in effective, safe, and positive ways.”
To be sure, children and teens need ongoing guidance for continuing Internet safety. Engaged parents can be on-hand to offer advice and alert for cyberbullying, unhealthy interactions or concerning conversations.
Here are five tips for families to have safer Internet experiences at home:
- Protect your child’s personal information;
- Tell children what to do if a stranger contacts them online;
- Show children how to identify and avoid online phishing;
- Watch for common signs of online bullying; and
- Help older children keep their social media private.
When you combine those key tips with the Xfinity xFi tool, you’re well on your way to protecting your home from unsafe Internet situations, no matter how subtle.
For more information, visit xfinity.com/hub/internet/keep-kids-safe-online.
