By Christopher G. Sykes
So you’ve had a conversation with your children about monitoring and protecting them online. You’ve set up some restrictions on their iPad or Kindle Fire. Your goal has been to keep them from accessing the unfiltered internet because you don’t want them exposed to harmful images and videos. You even decided to download a filtered web browser like Mobicip or Covenant Eyes so that you can set filtering and even monitor exact websites your children are visiting. Finally, you feel secure, but are you?
The answer to that question is coming in a minute, but first let’s discuss the difference between how adults and children view technology. It’s subtle, but important. When adults get a new piece of technology, like a smartphone or tablet for instance, they ask the question “What can it do for me?” Adults want to know how technology will make their lives easier. How does it help them organize, keep in contact, share information?
Children, however, ask this question: “What can it do?” Notice the difference? Children aren’t interested in making life easier. They are curious about expanding the possibilities. When asking what can it do, they aren’t trying to cause mischief or get in trouble. They just want to push every button, click every link, and try every setting to see what’s possible.
So are your kids secure on their digital devices just because you installed a filtered, monitored web browser and restricted their access to the built in browser? In short, no. Not completely. You see there are several apps, including very popular, seemingly kid/teen friendly ones, that include web browsers built right into the apps. Two of the biggest, most used are Facebook and Instagram. Now, I’m not telling you that you have to permanently delete Instagram and Facebook from your child’s device, but you do need to be aware of the potential issue. Here’s a quick sketch of how it works in the Facebook App. This isn’t the only way to get unrestricted access to the internet, but it is one way. Login to the Facebook App. From the Facebook search bar, type in Google. Go to the Google Facebook page. Click the “About” section on their page. In the “Company Overview” section, you will see a link to Google.com. Click that link, and it will open Google.com in Facebook’s built-in browser, providing complete and unrestricted access to search and surf the Internet.
Your child may not have discovered this yet, but he may stumble across the ability accidentally. Curiosity is certainly not a bad thing, but it sure makes parenting challenging. Remember, parents are the MOST influential people in a child’s life. Keeping them safe and guarding their hearts will help set them up for a successful future.