What is child information and how is it vulnerable?
By Brent Scott and Dina Alexander, MS
Imagine the following situation: Your child is getting ready to go and spend some time with friends at the mall. Before they leave you give them a hug and on their back you place a large sticker that includes your child’s name, age, nicknames, birthdate, address, social security number, banking information and other personal and private info. You may question what parent would ever do such a thing. The answer is: all of us, unless we have certain safeguards in place.
The Internet is a vast, intangible universe which our children will unavoidably explore. Unfortunately, there are predators lurking on the web waiting for children to share personal identification information (PII). PII can be any information that could be used to identify an individual. Examples include a Social Security Number, full name, driver’s license number, bank account, email address, etc. Once anonymous Internet scammers get a hold of your child’s PII, there could be a multitude of threats. Your child could face losing online accounts, having credit information stolen, or even worse, having their personal identity compromised. Children are at a serious risk for identity theft in part because of their clean financial records. A scammer can take that clean record and start fresh financially. Children are 51 times more likely to have their identity stolen than adults, according to a 2015 study by Carnegie Mellon University Cylab.
How do children access and share information?
The growth of technology in the Digital Era has made it easy for our children to access and share information. At this point in time, it’s rare to find a teen who doesn’t have a cell phone. In fact, about 95% of American teens, ages 13 to 17, have a mobile phone and about 88% have access to a computer with online capabilities. The ease of access to the Internet allows our kids to share information whenever and wherever they would like. Some of the most popular social platforms where teens share information include Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, GroupMe, and Twitch. Children can also expose their PII through other online communities, such as gaming communities. Some children will give out information, intentionally or unintentionally, on systems such as PS4 or Xbox. These apps and communities are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places where children can share information online.
How are children being exploited by the information they share?
As children play, watch, and stream online, they may encounter some strangers; some of these people will be on the hunt for their PII. Scammers may get them to click on a malware link, or have them give personal/account info in exchange for some reward. Kids, often believing the scammer will fulfill his promise, give up their information. Once the information is transferred, the cyber scammer can sell it on the dark web or use it to stalk, bully, or exploit the child’s identity.
Cyberbullying
The anonymity of the cyber world allows people to bully without being identified. They can hide behind screens and keyboards, avoiding repercussions for their actions. If they do get a hold of your child’s info and are abusing them online, it should be reported right away. and on Cyberbullying:
Cyberstalking
Cyber stalking is using the Internet to harass someone through repeated communication. Cyber stalkers are looking for information such as an email or location to talk to our children and possibly threaten them.
ID Theft
When our children share their information online, knowingly or unknowingly, they are putting themselves at risk for identity theft. Using your children’s personal information, criminals can open fake accounts in their name, be charged with crimes under their name, steal financial information, and much more. Many times, this goes unnoticed by parents or guardians because many don’t think to check the status of their children’s personal information.
How to Identify and Resolve Issues Your Child May Face:
1. Monitor web use
It’s imperative to keep tabs on your child’s online activity. It’s not nosey to be aware of what sites your child frequents, who they talk to online and what information they are putting on the web. It is not possible to always physically monitor online behavior but apps can be used to assist you in keeping track of online behavior. Along with Internet monitoring, consistently check personal financial statements to catch suspicious activity.
2. Talk to our kids about sex earlier and more often
As soon as children begin to use tablets, phones, and iPods they are are at risk of exposure to hyper-sexualized images; it’s important to start talking to our kids about sex and the dangers of pornography at younger ages. Distributors of pornography actively seek to herd kids into their sites. Honest, open, and age appropriate conversations are a significant safety measure. Listed are some helpful resources to help get the conversation going:
3. Stay aware
Stay aware of the latest apps kids are using to talk, date, and potentially bully. This can be done by a quick Google search, talking to other parents about what their children use, or simply asking your child what’s popular. The more you know, the better!
4. Enable parental controls
Many apps, online websites, and gaming platforms offer ! Based on your child’s activity, look into for their most used media sources. It can filter out a lot of nonsense, provide a history of activity, and protect them from identity theft while online.
5. Limit screen-time
The less your children are on screens, the less likely they will be targeted for identity theft or be exposed to inappropriate content. Set limits for screen time and stick to them. You should also encourage screen-free activities such as cooking together, socializing with friends or family, and joining extracurricular activities.
6. Create a media guideline WITH your family
, rather than on your own, is an inclusive, fair way to set rules. Make sure to set clear, measurable rules for which everyone is on the same page.
7. Don’t use screens as a pacifier
It can be easy for a parent to sit their child in front of a screen to save themselves from a possible headache. ; screens should be a privilege for children, not something to get them to be quiet.
8. Have the “difficult conversations”
This isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Speaking to kids about the explicit content they may come across online can be awkward for parents. Check out this resource to learn more about how you can conquer this parenting challenge.
Parents Unite
As parents, we are often overwhelmed when it comes to our kids and technology. We want to keep them safe, but we also want them to become capable, strong, intelligent adults. The rapidly changing world of technology makes it critical for us to set specific rules for our kids, set up safety measures and parental controls on their devices, and most importantly, to talk about tough topics. As kids venture into the online world, they are bombarded by images, demands for their attention, and opportunities to compare themselves to photoshopped images of celebrities, and curated, filtered images of people who all seem to be living “perfect” lives.
This is why we must be the first, best source of information when it comes to media, social media, gaming, and pornography–and its opposite, healthy sexuality. Some people fear that bringing these topics up will “give their kids ideas.” We want to give them ideas: healthy ones!
Give your kids the idea that you are a great source of reliable, honest information. Let them know through your words and actions that you can speak calmly, comfortably and rationally about human issues that affect all of us, namely, curiosity and sexuality. As you initiate discussions about these topics, share your personal experiences, spiritual values, and expectations kindly and thoughtfully. Your child will begin to see that you are ready to talk about “tough” topics and more importantly, listen to them. I promise you as you answer your kids’ questions openly and sincerely, they will come back to you for your wisdom and empathy.
Need Help with Tough Topics? We got you covered!
Dina Alexander is the founder and president of Educate and Empower Kids (educateempowerkids.org), an organization determined to strengthen families by teaching digital citizenship, media literacy, and healthy sexuality education—including education about the dangers of online porn. She is the creator of Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good, Petra’s Power to See: A Media Literacy Adventure, Messages About Me: A Journey to Healthy Body Image, How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography and the 30 Days of Sex Talks and 30 Days to a Stronger Child programs. She received her master’s degree in recreation therapy from the University of Utah and her bachelors from Brigham Young University. She is an amazing mom and loves spending time with her husband and three kids. Together, they live in Texas.
Citations:
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018, September 19). Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018 | Pew Research Center. Retrieved September 22, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018/
Power, R. Child (N/A).Identity Theft: New Evidence Indicates Identity Thieves are Targeting Children for Unused Social Security Numbers. Retrieved October 22, 2018, from https://www.cylab.cmu.edu/_files/pdfs/reports/2011/child-identity-theft.pdf
