Tips for Safe Online Experiences For Internet Safety Month & Beyond
June was Internet Safety Month, and given the vastness of the Internet, many parents wonder
how they should monitor their children's use of the web, whether it is on a
computer or a smartphone. According to a recent U.S. Cellular survey, nearly
half of parents (47percent) said their child has a cellphone, and the average
age that children receive cellphones is 12 years old. The majority of parents
establish cellphone rules, and two-thirds monitor their children's cellphone
usage, according to the same survey.
“At U.S.
Cellular, we know that every family is different so we suggest having open discussions
about what works best for your family’s Internet use,” said Bertram Daniels, area sales manager for U.S. Cellular. “Mobile devices can help families stay connected, so we want to
be a resource for parents as they make decisions on their child’s first
cellphone and the Internet use that goes along with it.”
U.S.
Cellular suggests the following tips for parents to help facilitate
conversations about using the Internet on mobile devices:
· Have an agreement with your child(ren). U.S. Cellular has
created a Parent-Child Agreement to help guide families' conversations
about mobile phone usage. The agreement focuses on safety
and etiquette, and is customizable based on each family's specific needs.
· Discuss
online sharing. Make sure your children know to never share personal information online,
including their name, age, address, school or passwords. Remind them to communicate
only with family or friends and not to answer unknown requests or texts.
· Share
photos appropriately: Kids may not know that once photos are online
they are part of a public space, and can even be modified without their
knowledge. Discuss appropriate use of
sharing photos with friends and alert them to never post photos, which could
contain information about where they live or be seen as inappropriate.
·
Use a protective app. Many apps provides safety and security by monitoring your
child's location and mobile usage. These services allow parents to review their
child's calls and texts, and restrict certain websites and apps. Children can also
send their parents an alert with the simple press of a button if they are in
trouble or find themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
¹Results are
from a nationally representative online survey of 738 smartphone owners
conducted by U.S. Cellular in partnership with Maritz Research from Nov. 12-20,
2014.
4G LTE service provided through King Street Wireless,
a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI
About
U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service
wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and
industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The
Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all
backed by a high-quality network in big and small cities and rural communities.
Currently, 94 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds, and 98 percent
will have access by the end of 2015. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and
Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn
more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To
get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on
Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp
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