The majority of the population that spends time online is comprised of teens and kids. They are naturally tech savvy and (most of the time) know how online tools work better than their parents do. This happens to be a double-edged sword: kids can easily help Grandma get on a video call, but spending long periods of time online puts them in possible contact with multiple threats. These include inappropriate content, cyberbullying, cyber-predators, and phishing. Parental control can help to make your child safer online. 

What are parental controls? 

Parental controls refer to software that moderate children's internet access and activities. They are integrated into television services, computer operating systems, video games and mobile devices. These tools are used to assist parents in setting up content restrictions. There has been an increasing demand for parental control over the years, which is why some software subscriptions and internet providers offer them as part of their services.

Many applications let you set up a “Kids Profile” to moderate content. With that said, it is important to note that parental controls are only one of many tools to improve children's cybersecurity.  Some of the most popular parental control available are mentioned below: 

• Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)

• Safe Eyes (www.internetsafety.com/safe-eyes-parental-control.software.php)

• CYBERsitter (www.cybersitter.com) 

Remember, parental control are only helpful in combination with other internet safety tools and techniques. The most important is open communication with children: they have to be aware of the real threats they are exposed to while online, and they have to feel safe expressing themselves whenever they feel they are in a dangerous situation. It is also important for children to know they are on devices with parental controls set up, so that they can be aware of the limitations and have a better experience while online.