Cybersecurity is a hot topic in the parenting world and while it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, there are local experts working to provide resources for families to stay safe online. University of Arkansas at Little Rock teammates, Philip Huff and Sandra Leiterman, run UA Little Rock’s new CyberGym, an education and simulation model laboratory for cybersecurity learning. Here are their tips for protecting your family:

LRF: How do parents balance protecting their kids from harmful content on the internet with teaching them how to safely explore for enrichment and entertainment?

UA Little Rock: Talk to your children. Having internet access is a privilege, not a right. A parent has the right to review their child’s online activity and should do so regularly. Research your child’s most-used apps and most visited websites. You can’t assume that your child will stick with age-appropriate websites, but don’t be too quick to judge. Your child may stumble upon the website inadvertently. Ask questions if you don’t understand something.

TIP: Keep their settings private, and turn off location services in apps. Know your child’s passwords.

LRF: What language is helpful for parents to teach kids who are bothered by something they've seen on the internet? How do parents keep that line of communication open?

UA Little Rock: Children need a safe environment to communicate. If you ask your child directly about disturbing images or communication, they will likely close up. Instead, this type of communication should flow indirectly from times you have purposely set up to communicate openly (i.e. a hike, dinner, driving in the car, etc.). 

TIP: Create a contract that your child must sign when receiving their mobile phone. It helps them understand the boundaries and expectations in their usage, and the consequences if they breach the contract. This provides a safe way to discuss internet safety.

LRF: What are some suggested guidelines for kids as they interact with others on the internet?

UA Little Rock: Kids need to be aware of the “digital footprint” they leave on the internet. If you don’t want the whole world to know about it, it certainly doesn’t belong on the internet. Nothing online is 100% anonymous. Deleting something doesn’t mean it’s gone. While your social media may be private, your friends’ may not. Other people can easily download and/or share your photos, videos, and comments. Tell your parents if someone does something to make you feel uncomfortable online. 

TIP: Never post your location online or agree to meet a stranger.

LRF: What's the minimum age for independent exploration of the internet? What are some graduated steps along the way as your child matures to internet independence?

UA Little Rock: The internet has tremendous value for independent learning, and this should be encouraged as soon as possible. However, we don’t see much value from using social media early on. I wouldn’t say there is a “minimum age,” but it depends on the maturity of each child. Parental guidance is of the utmost importance. A parent would not let their child go to an amusement park unsupervised, and internet exploration should be no different. As a child gets older and more mature, supervision can be reduced, but should never be eliminated.

TIP: CyberWise and Common Sense Media are great online resources for both kids and parents who want to find out more about how to stay safe on the internet.

To learn more about cybersecurity and UA Little Rock’s Cybergym, head to https://ualr.edu/computerscience/cybersecurity/. Philip Huff is an assistant professor of computer science at UA Little Rock with 15 years of experience managing cybersecurity operations. Sandra Leiterman is a STEM specialist with UA Little Rock’s STEM Education Center where she specializes in math education and VEX Robotics.