This Tuesday, February 7, the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day is celebrated, a European day dedicated to safety on the Internet, applications and any other digital media to which children are especially exposed.
“Safer Internet Day is an opportunity for us to give young people a voice to talk about their favorite activities, their fears and above all to give them the opportunity to formulate their wishes to improve their lives online”, explains Axelle Desaint, Safer coordinator. Internet Day in France and director of Internet without fear.
Enrollment in the school program.
Safer Internet Day is now spread over a month with an entry in school diaries. Actions are organized in establishments, meetings with digital experts to talk about good practices, cyberbullying and other issues that especially affect adolescents.
Leading the operation in France, Internet Without Fear is a national digital awareness program run by the Tralalère association. It covers an information platform, a resource center, a telephone number or even awareness actions. There are tips on setting up apps and devices, interactive guides, and prevention videos.
A study carried out on the occasion of the event on the evolution of parents’ views on their children’s online activities is made public. It shows in particular that 25% of the parents surveyed think that the Internet is useless for their children, even causing anxiety. But the report also notes that 93% of them believe they know everything about their children’s online activity and that everything is going well. “Parental support is just as necessary”, stresses Axelle Desaint.
Apple and Samsung in display support and education
For this reason, the main manufacturers of smartphones have also understood that they have a responsibility in the approach that parents and children have to the screens. An awareness of the problems that also goes hand in hand with the presence of their products in young hands. At Apple, this takes the form of a session Today at Applefree sessions in Apple Stores to learn certain uses of household appliances.
The apple brand recently launched a theme Your children and their devices that allows you to learn how to calmly configure iPhone, iPad or Mac so that they can be used safely by children, supervised by their parents. An additional stone that adds to the multiple configurations already possible to monitor screen time and usage.
For its part, Samsung deployed a few months ago “My first phone”, a platform to inform, educate and help parents and children with the first mobile device. It must be said that the average age of the first phone among children is now 9.9 years and they are not necessarily ready for digital life. Designed with Tralalère, My First Phone wants to give “the keys to enjoy your phone safely”.
It is a fun educational course for children to acquire the correct reflexes through contests and challenges. For adults and teachers, educational resources (tips, practical sheets) are available.
How to adjust kid’s screen time?
According to an IPSOS study for Samsung France, 80% of parents surveyed say they have already had a conversation with their child over the phone. But more than one in two believe they do not have the necessary tools to do so. However, there are multiple settings built into the devices to ensure that the child uses her device well and is not at risk. And this often just means limiting screen time and settings. “But all this must be done around an exchange of practices. You have to explain to the child what she can or cannot do, depending on her age. It should never be about punishment”, says Axelle Desaint.
While there are some parental control apps out there, of which e-Child Protection provides a list, smartphones, PCs and tablets already have several features that are easy to activate.
on iPhone
Apple has the Screen Time feature. It allows everyone to be aware of their application consumption, the number of notifications received, the time they spend in games or on social networks to sometimes better limit themselves. But it can also be used to give a child screen time sparingly and in a controlled way.
You need your own iCloud account, added to Family Sharing from the Adult Guardian settings. It will then be possible to set a daily time limit (duration or time interval to, for example, interrupt use at night), choose the authorized contacts to exchange with the child, the applications and sites that can be consulted, but also to block in-app purchases and set restrictions. All based on their age or based on parental choices by category.
Even if the device is in a restricted period, certain applications remain accessible (Phone, Contact, Alarm, Message, etc.). A report is provided to know the use that the child makes of their screens. Because the settings of an account apply to both an iPhone and an iPad or a used Mac. Parents therefore keep an eye on the child’s device who can use it without being constantly monitored.
on android
Android devices also have a mode to better monitor usage by a child. Some tablets even allow you to create a child account in parallel with the adult account to provide turnkey usage, with pre-ordered and tailored apps, website whitelisting, and the ability to restrict screen time or hours of use.
Just go to device settings and “Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls” part to set permissions. But it will be easier to manage everything through Google’s Family Link app (also available on iOS). After creating a Google account for the child, it allows you to set the usage time on tablet, smartphone and Chromebook, define the authorized applications or not.
On Windows PC
Strictly speaking, there are no settings on computers running Windows 10 or 11. Microsoft has opted for an online portal from which it is possible to configure the settings of your PCs and thus configure settings for children, including time. screen with time slots spread over the day or week, authorized websites, games or devices to which you can connect. The Microsoft Family Safety app also combines these same features by also adding the location of family members who have the app on their smartphone.
on the game console
Microsoft designed the Xbox Family Settings app to manage children’s profiles on consoles xbox. And as in a smartphone, it is possible to give them game time, set a schedule, filter authorized content, purchases, contacts and access to different chats, depending on their age. Parents can get a report of the child’s console usage and even apply the settings to a Windows PC.
For PS4 and PS5, you need to go through the PlayStation app to set play times, game access and chat based on age or possibly block purchases. Sony also provides a dashboard and report if required.
Sure nintendo switch, you can manage the screen time granted to the child from the console (Settings / Parental Controls) or from the much more complete Nintendo Switch Parental Control application. The latter allows you to configure the level of restriction, time, access to the store, sharing on networks, etc. Keep in mind, however, that Fixed Screen Time applies to the Switch, not to any particular profile. Next, you need to know the code to disable the feature.
Source: BFM TV
