I had a chance to interview Titania Jordan, technology expert and Chief Parenting Officer at Bark, an Atlanta-based technology company known for keeping kids safe online without infringing on their privacy,.
Titania has been featured nationwide and is an incredibly passionate and valuable subject matter expert in all areas of technology and cyber safety, with wonderful advice to share with parents this 2019 holiday season.
How can parents decide whether or not their children are ready for a cell phone?
A bigger question is "Are you as a parent ready to take on this major responsibility of making sure your child has a healthy relationship with the phone?” This requires effort and time, much like any other aspect of parenting!
Ask yourself...
Is your child going to be able to follow the rules you set for using this phone?
Are you ready to sit down and have this conversation to set these rules?
Will your child be responsible for keeping the phone in good condition?
Will he/she respect your data limitations and screen time?
Are you as a parent ready to set limitations and take away the phone if necessary? And enforce these limitations as much as it may hurt YOU?
Is your child aware of school limitations and other places where being on the phone (when you’re not around) is and isn’t appropriate?
Are you ready to talk to your child about appropriate texting and online communication?
Should factors like other kids' cell phone use weigh in to the decision?
Whether it should or it shouldn’t is really up to a parent’s personal preference but the reality is when everyone else has one or if the class has established a text chat for school and your child is the only one not on that chat, it’s hard to be left out. So, while it’s easy to say it shouldn’t matter, it does. That said, establishing the ground rules up front and having a proper monitoring system installed (like Bark) will help set you up for success.
How can parents make sure kids stay safe when they have cell phones?
By being in communication with their kids. By limiting screen time and keeping areas of the home “phone-free” especially at night or in bedrooms. By installing a monitoring system that alerts parents to potentially harmful situations but still entrusts the kids to make the right decisions. By having healthy conversations about cyber safety in a digital world. By staying in touch with them but also by making sure things don’t slip through the cracks. That’s one of the best things about Bark. It doesn’t give parents full access to their kids’ accounts; it simply alerts them to potentially harmful situations that they may otherwise miss. Think of it as a cyber safety co-pilot.
What do parents need to talk to their kids about before giving them a phone?
The conversations are endless! Everything from feelings to how texting can be misinterpreted to the use of emojis. From giving them age-appropriate permission to use certain apps but not others. By having them sign a Tech Contract (I’ll attach the link) to show them that they are being handed a large responsibility in having a phone that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By keeping the dialogue open to talk and ask questions, especially if they see something online that doesn’t feel right.
In addition to the personal use of the Bark app which currently protects more than four million children daily (from both online predators and self-inflicted harm), Bark has also expanded into more than 1500 schools nationwide where it has successfully averted numerous credible school threats.
Get 30% off a new subscription 11/28-12/2 with code BARKFRIBLG
What do parents need to talk to their kids about before giving them a phone?
The conversations are endless! Everything from feelings to how texting can be misinterpreted to the use of emojis. From giving them age-appropriate permission to use certain apps but not others. By having them sign a Tech Contract (I’ll attach the link) to show them that they are being handed a large responsibility in having a phone that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By keeping the dialogue open to talk and ask questions, especially if they see something online that doesn’t feel right.
In addition to the personal use of the Bark app which currently protects more than four million children daily (from both online predators and self-inflicted harm), Bark has also expanded into more than 1500 schools nationwide where it has successfully averted numerous credible school threats.
Get 30% off a new subscription 11/28-12/2 with code BARKFRIBLG
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