Fun ways to teach kids about privacy

Today’s teens, tweens and younger kids have never known a world without smartphones, apps and mobile technologies, so is it any wonder they roll their eyes when parents talk about being safe online? Youth may find warnings about digital privacy tedious, but a strong privacy skillset is vital to ensure their digital safety while navigating today’s online world.

Instead of preaching, how about engaging them with fun, interactive activities that educate them about privacy? We have three suggestions for helping kids strengthen their knowledge about cybersecurity — that can double as activities to share on a rainy day.

Fortifying login credentials is one of the most important — and simplest — habits to put into practice. Using an 8 to 12-character password is no longer enough, as they can be cracked by a cybercriminal almost instantly. Plus, reusing the same password for multiple accounts is a serious cybersecurity risk.

Children need to understand the more complicated and unique their passwords are, the safer their accounts are going to be. But how do you make password creation entertaining?

How about trying the Password Game, which helps teach kids of all ages how to invent stronger, more secure passwords? The goal is to create a password that meets the 35 criteria — or rules — set by the game. As you successfully meet one rule, another, more complicated one is introduced.

The game is a challenging puzzle you can solve together, giving your child a hands-on understanding of how strong passwords can be created.

By the way, if you get stuck at one of the stages, there are some useful tips here.

When it comes to internet use, nearly every (96%) US teen is online daily, with social media platforms listed as the top apps used. While social media is a great way for kids to connect and interact with their friends, 45% of teens admit to spending too much time on social media.

Unfortunately, those extra hours put them at risk as online fraudsters often use fake profiles to post inappropriate content, promote malicious links or try and sell products through a faked or spoofed website. Children need to know how to spot a suspicious social media profile or post by looking for clues like:

• Having few friends or followers
• Only posting about one, divisive topic
• Selling products or services from a personal account without verification

Spot the Troll is an online game from Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub designed to teach how to recognize fake accounts. The web-based game, which was recently updated, shows images of real social media content and asks players to determine if they’re looking at something from a legitimate account or an internet troll.

The S.M.A.R.T. acronym is an easy way to teach your kids basic rules to follow while online. Here’s what it stands for — and what kids should remember:

S – SAFE

Oversharing online can expose information the bad guys can use to commit fraud or identity theft. It's important to keep personal information safe and not share details, such as home addresses, full names or login credentials.

M – MEET

They should never meet-up with someone they’ve met online, even if it's someone they think they know. If a stranger or online friend ever asks to meet in person, they should tell an adult as soon as possible.

A – ACCEPTING

Everyone should think twice before clicking on a suspicious file, email or link as these could contain a malicious virus. Similarly, they should not accept a message or friend request from someone they don’t know.

R – RELIABLE

Don’t believe everything that’s found online. There's a lot of misinformation on the internet, so teaching kids how to evaluate information — like with these tips from the Teen Fact-Checking Network from MediaWise — can help them think critically about what they read.

T – TELL

Approximately one in five teens now report social media has a negative effect on their mental health. Whether it’s a result of cyberbullying, body shaming or the vitriolic language that’s become common, teens should know if someone online makes them upset, or they notice strange or unkind activity happening to someone else, they should speak up and tell an adult.

To help your child internalize these rules, create a SMART poster with them. They can incorporate their own designs and hang it in a common space to remind the family of these safe practices.

You can also take the SMART Rules Quiz together to see how well they’ve learned how to protect themselves when they’re online.

Getting kids to willingly discuss online safety can be tough, but it’s critical they understand the risks they’ll face in today’s digital world. With a few interactive activities, you can help your children be more aware of threats so they can stay ahead of the bad guys.