The Smart Talk: Teaching Families the Importance of Online Security
Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with LifeLock. Opinions are 100% my own.
Online privacy, it’s the topic most talked about, but more often ignored because it’s not well understood.
Why? Because unless a parent is up to speed on all things cyber, it is easy to tune out the chatter as most of the information is simply not displayed in a way most can understand.
The reality as we see it is that parents need to become more aware of the potential dangers that exist online. That is why National PTA, the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, and LifeLock, the leading identity theft protection company, have teamed up to create The Smart Talk. A free online tool to help families start conversations about online safety and responsibility while setting ground rules for technology use.
Responsible tech use in an ever-changing world is an essential life skill needed for kids today. Learning the rules of navigating their identities online is a critical component that I have started to teach my seven-year-old. Through The Smart Talk, I can show him to how to have fun through technology, build healthy digital habits, and just how quickly his identity can be compromised based on his behavior.
What I find so great about The Smart Talk is that it takes the pressure parents can feel about having the technology talk with their kids. In an interactive experience, it guides families through conversations of online etiquette, safety, and privacy. It also addresses the importance of issues that can emerge regarding smartphones, screen time, appropriate apps, downloads, texting and social media. The tool also creates a printable contract to hold both parent and child accountable.
As technology continues to evolve, it is imperative for families to continue to have a conversation about online behavior and address issues as they arise.
There is no time like the present to have #TheSmartTalk with your digitally savvy child or teen - join in the movement to teach them the right way to be responsible with technology.
