I’m a tech expert – here are 5 internet secrets you need to know to keep your kids safe
KEEPING your kids safe on the internet can be a tough job but here are five loopholes to look out for, according to experts.
Children find new ways to outsmart parental controls every day and the average adult settings option is not enough to keep them safe.
This comes as more than half of parents with kids aged between seven and 17 feel the younger generation is more tech savvy than them.
And six in 10 children have managed to bypass the parental controls set altogether.
An expert from Bark Technologies has given parents an insight into five backdoors kids use to get around these restrictions.
Google Docs Explore
Parents may be familiar with the programme as children often use it to complete homework and it became popular when the world turned to studying at home during the pandemic.
But Google Docs contains an icon called Explore, which allows the user to search for websites and images on the same screen at the same time.
It has also been discovered that children use Google Docs as a chatting device in school.
Chief Parent Officer at Bark Technologies, Titania Jordan, said: “Kids are brilliant at finding ways around parental controls especially as technology changes so quickly.
“They often know secret workarounds that most parents aren’t aware of.”
From a distance it could look as though a child is working on their own individual document but in reality it’s possible they are all writing on the same doc.
Spotify playlist descriptions
Spotify is a music streaming service, but according to this expert, children are using it to communicate with people online.
You can write messages through song descriptions and it leaves open the possibility a stranger could contact a child.
“Remember all it takes for online chatting to occur is a place where two kids can edit text in the same location,” Titania added.
According to guidelines, Spotify users must be aged 13-years or above and have parental permission, however there is no way to confirm this when somebody signs up.
It is important to check if there are any communications through the music playing app.
Fitbit App
Another inventive and surprising way children and strangers have been using to communicate is through the Fitbit App.
There is a Community Messages section that allows fellow Fitbit wearers to speak with each other and track their progress.
“At first glance the Fitbit app just looks like a place to see data about steps taken or minutes exercise,” the expert added.
“But there’s a community like Facebook that allows strangers to post and direct message,” she said.
Email Drafts
Parents may believe searching the sent and received folders in their email account is enough to keep an eye on their children – but they’re wrong.
Youngsters who hack into an account can use draft mode to communicate with someone who also knows the log in details.
The messages are then able to be deleted instantly and leave no trace.
“If two kids know the log ins to an email account they can take turns writing in draft mode and the messages won’t show up as sent or received,” Titania continued.
Google Maps
While we may use Google Maps everyday, there is a risk that comes with having it installed on a child’s device.
Anyone is able to search for a shop or place that could sell or provide an inappropriate product and show the user where to go.
Titania said: “I know, seems harmless right?
“But try searching for sex store for example, it could lead you to find local shops and then it’s just a quick jump to their website from the link Google provides.”
The parental control app creators at Bark suggested the best way to protect your children is to keep communication open.
“Talk to your kids calmly and candidly about unexpected internet rabbit holes and make sure you are using intelligent parental controls that actually monitor for danger.
“Don’t just attempt to control screen time.”
This comes as thousands of parents have discovered their children being contacted through what they thought was an innocent video game.
Roblox is somewhat similar to Fortnite in that it presents a virtual, online space for users to socialise in.
It’s basically somewhere you can hang out with friends, explore virtual spaces, and play a huge array of games and content.
One mum felt “physically sick” after a “predator” messaged her eight-year-old boy using the game’s chat function.
The user asked the unassuming youngster to google something for him.
He was sent a link which took the boy through to a X-rated website, leaving his horrified mum wishing she could “erase it from his memory.”