Kansas City, MO – Perhaps your child has the latest smart watch, VR headset, or multiplayer video game at the top of their Santa list – but without taking precautions, your child could be placed in harm's way.
Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, says online games are a form of social media that can expose your child to cyber predators.
“We’ve seen trafficking cases, we’ve seen molestations, and other sex crimes," says Berkman. "Usually older men will be grooming younger children through the game."
Berkman says many parents have no idea that the game on their child’s wish list allows them to play and talk with strangers all over the world.
“If you have younger children on those gaming sites, maximize those privacy settings," he urges.
Berkman urges parents to have a conversation with their kids about the dangers, and use parental control apps to monitor the child’s screen time and limit access. He says it’s also important to keep devices outside of your child’s bedroom at night.
Not only are cyber-predators a concern with any device that offers online access, but adding more screen-based gifts could increase risk of mental health issues.
“A third of young girls using Instagram were having additional body image issues," he says.
Berkman says we can’t stop the reality that kids are growing up online, but we can keep them safer with parental control apps.
“Set time limits on your operating systems so that your child’s ipad or device shuts off at a healthy amount of time and you don’t have to stand over their shoulder and monitor them," he says.
Berkman advises getting a basket to put devices aside during mealtime, and have the kids drop off the devices overnight. He says smartphone use at night is linked to sleep disturbance and learning deficits.