5 Smart Reasons To Monitor Kids Online

While we want kids to have space to grow and learn, there are five smart reasons you should monitor kids online.

Technology is a key part of our daily lives.

I know it’s hard to imagine what life was like before laptops and smartphones.

Since technology is everywhere, our children get exposed to the internet and social media far sooner than we did as kids.

While technology can be a wonderful thing, unfortunately, daily interactions with technology can also turn dangerous for children. 

Be sure to check out even more of my helpful parenting tips, too!

5 Smart Reasons You Should Monitor Your Kids Online

As children get older and interact with technology more frequently, parents need to keep an eye on their children’s technology use.

Take a look at these five reasons why you as a parent should monitor your kid’s technology use. 

Potential exposure to inappropriate content

Let’s face it – there’s a lot of content on the internet that is inappropriate for children, including violence, death, drugs and sexual content.

This type of material is everywhere!

You can find it in videos, social media, websites and other miscellaneous material. 

Keep a careful eye on the material your children view online.

Adding parental controls can help as well as going online with your child and only going on family-safe sites is a smart step.

Cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying is a real issue that children face today.

Cyberbullying occurs when someone uses technology to harass, embarrass or threaten another person.

This often happens through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

Learn the signs your child may be being bullied.

Cyberbullying can be tricky to manage if you have older children or teens.

However, one way to help prevent cyberbullying is to monitor your child’s social media interactions.

This can include keeping an eye on who they are talking to, what they are posting, and how often they are using these platforms.

If you notice something odd, you should speak with your child about it.

Usage can interfere with schoolwork

While technology is a great way to help with schoolwork, too much usage can actually have the opposite effect.

Today, most children and teens use devices like laptops and smartphones to do their homework.

However, if they are using these devices for more than two to three hours per day, it’s likely they aren’t using their time effectively. 

Set time limits on how long your kids can use technology for schoolwork.

This will help them get the most out of their devices while ensuring they aren’t staying on them too long. 

It can be addictive

For some folks, it can be hard to disengage with technology.

This is especially true for children and teens who have been using these devices since they were young.

A failure to take time away from electronics could be dangerous to your child’s cognitive development.

It could lead to computer addiction, which can cause your child to neglect their other responsibilities like homework or an after school sport. 

As mentioned above, limit how often your children are allowed to engage in technology.

It’s best to limit their use of their electronics to a few hours a day, and they should be encouraged to take breaks.

Reasons to monitor kids online: Might learn bad behaviors

Children have a habit of copying things they see others do.

Sometimes it’s harmless behavior like copying an animal sound they might have seen in a video.

Other times, there’s a strong potential for your child to learn bad behavior.

For example, if they watch a video of a child disrespecting their parents by yelling at them and not getting disciplined, your child might copy that behavior.

If you start noticing your child exhibiting bad behaviors, their technology use could be the culprit.

Ideally, you’ll want to check your child’s browsing history to ensure they’re not watching inappropriate content.

However, you might not realize a video your child watched was harmful until after the fact.

At that point, you might want to sit down and explain to your child they shouldn’t copy that type of negative behavior. 

Technology will be a constant in your child’s life.

At some point, they will need to learn how to use it.

However, what matters the most is for your child to learn how to use technology responsibly. 

While you can’t control everything your child does, you can monitor kids online and their technology use to support good choices.

By learning safe practices, your children can avoid the dangers of technology while still benefiting from all of the great things technology can bring. 

About Author Rachel

Rachel is a freelance content writer located in San Diego, California.

Over the course of her career, she has written a variety of health, parenting, and fitness articles.

In her free time, she enjoys running along the beach with her two puppies and practicing yoga.