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STAYING SAFE online is a constant concern for parents with kids from toddlers to teenagers and now that we’re in the dog days of summer, more free time may translate to more screen time, causing a jump on your worry meter. We asked Titania Jordan, the Chief Parent Officer at leading parental control app Bark, how parents can make changes to their internet habits (think before you share!) and routines in an effort to keep their Minis better protected during their time using tech.

THINK, THEN SHARE.

“Caution your kids on sending or posting images and videos online,” says Jordan. “Teens especially tend to overshare on social media without realizing the consequences. As parents we must remind our kids that the internet never forgets.”

SNEVER TRUST STRANGERS. It’s time to put that Stranger Danger mentality to use. “Protect your kids and their personal information from any hackers or predators by choosing non-identifying screen names and teach your child to verify the identity of anyone they connect with online,” Jordan shares.

JOIN A PARENT AND TECH EDUCATION GROUP.

“Stay up to date with new trends or platforms and share experiences with your children and social media to help others stay connected and informed,” Jordan suggests. “It is important to be knowledgeable about what happens on social media in order to protect your children from the dangers.”

USE A MONITORING APP.

“Consider a third party monitoring app such as Bark to do the heavy lifting for you,” says Jordan. “Bark can monitor your child’s texts, emails, YouTube, and 24+ social media platforms, scanning for signs of potential issues like cyberbullying, self-harm, violence, sexual predators, and more.”

BE AWARE OF CYBERBULLYING. “Cyberbullying is one of the biggest risks associated with social media use,” Jordan tells Mini. “It is important to help your child understand what it looks like and how to prevent it. Cyberbullying can also be illegal in some circumstances, with severe consequences.”

Bark is a leading parental control app that gives parents the ability to manage every aspect of their kids’ digital worlds. With Bark, parents can manage screen time, filter websites, manage calls and contacts, track location, and receive alerts.