Smartphones are a wonderful invention and can be incredibly helpful for kids. By using them for school research, communicating with teachers and friends, and even accessing games, these devices can open many doors for our youth. 

Unfortunately, accessing the internet through smartphones comes with a unique set of risks. Inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators are just a few of the dangers they may encounter. It's your job as a parent to protect them while they take advantage of everything the internet has to offer.

Luckily, you're not alone in handling these situations. Keep reading for the top four ways to keep your kids safe while using their smartphones.

1. Install a Tracking App

With school, extracurricular activities, after-school care, and more, it is important to know that your child is always safe. While everyone thinks that dangerous situations won't happen to them, it is best to be prepared just in case. 

If you have an older child you want to be sure is safe, there are ways to track a cell phone without them knowing for free. With phone tracking apps, you can check on your child's GPS location to ensure they are in a safe location. You can also use it to check in with their social media accounts to ensure they are not interacting with any dangerous people online.

2. Set Parental Controls

Whether your family uses Android or Apple devices, there will be an option on the settings page for you to set parental restrictions. These may include:

• Special password to make purchases
• Restriction on operating hours
• Limits on what type of content your child can access

These settings can block particular apps and websites that may include offensive or inappropriate content. On most devices, there are also ways to block content with particular keywords. This way, you can be sure your child is not viewing content that is overly mature for them. 

3. Talk to Your Child About Potential Dangers

From predators sending inappropriate content to accessing pornography, there are plenty of risks present when your child uses the internet. While you may not be able to monitor every time they use the internet, there are precautions you can take to keep them safe. 

To help avoid these interactions, it is important to talk to your child about the potential dangers online. 

While it may not be the most comfortable conversation to have, try creating a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up to you. 

4. Agree On Healthy Boundaries

As your child or teen grows and matures, they may start wanting and needing additional privacy. This independence is both healthy and normal. However, as you begin easing monitoring restrictions, it is important to agree on activity boundaries together. Talk to your kids about what sort of precautions they should take and what activities are considered risky behavior. 

With the mask of the internet, it can be easy to forget that information shared online is never private and can have serious repercussions. Remind your kids not to share the following: 

• Personally-identifying information
• Passwords
• Inappropriate pictures
• Foul language

Conclusion

If you have kids, they are likely using smartphones and accessing the internet. Avoid having them get involved with cyber bullies, predators, and mature content by taking a few easy precautions. Using monitoring apps and setting specific boundaries with your child can help keep them out of danger. It is also best to talk to your kids about potential risks. This way, they can stay alert and feel comfortable talking to you about their online interactions.