Adult or Child – College Kids Online
Protecting Your Older Teens Online
Your child is becoming an adult and moving off to college. He or she has a whole new world waiting for them. They also have more responsibilities online to ensure they remain safe and protected while they are away at college or sitting in their bedroom. Whether they are still teens or young adults, teens can benefit from learning a few key things about being an adult in an online world including what steps to take to keep themselves protected in this society of sharing.
Protecting Privacy
A key place to start with teens is to teach them how to protect their privacy. Sharing information is quite common, but some information should never be communicated over the Internet. This includes Social Security numbers and financial data. Simple information such as addresses and parent information can be used to steal the identity of a teen. The impacts can ripple throughout their life for years to come. That may include damage to their credit report, long lists of credit card debt they did not create, and limitations on their financial future.
Wireless Risks
Most teens today have laptops. While they need them for work and play, they still need to understand the risks present with using them. For example, tens using a laptop over a WiFi connection need to know that connection isn't safe. Typing financial information, for example, into their device over these unsecured networks means someone could steal it. At the same time, teens need to learn how to keep their laptops free from spyware and viruses such as through the use of antivirus software.
Computer Policies at Schools
Most colleges have very specific computer policies in place that teens need to meet. These may include the types of content accessed over school provided Internet connectivity. Some may even have to pay for such connectivity.
There's no way to remove the Internet from your college bound student's life and you really do not want to. There are countless benefits to it and it can provide today's teens with the access to information and rewards they need to learn about to grow and develop into the innovative teens they should be. At the same time, though, your teen needs to know the rules and the risks out there. This is the only way the teen can be sure to protect his or her privacy and rights into school.