Making the most of parental controls on devices and apps
Written by Nimmi Kanji (Director - Social Purpose Programs, For Good & TELUS Wise) Discussing online privacy with your kids is an important part of creating safe online experiences for them. While it may seem that kids are in their own worlds when they are using devices and apps, parents and guardians still have an important role to play in protecting kids’ privacy, gatekeeping the content they see and ensuring their online interactions are safe. Most device operating systems and the apps kids use offer a suite of parental controls and privacy settings. By familiarizing yourself with what’s available and taking advantage of the settings, you can let the kids in your life experience the advantages of being online while minimizing the risks. Apple devices Apple provides, “tools that let parents know, and feel good about, what kids are doing.” Features let parents set limits on how and how often kids can use their devices including: Screen time: track how much time kids spend on apps, devices and websites and set limits for specific apps and websites. Downtime: block apps and notifications at a specific time (i.e. bedtime or during homework hours). Ask to download/buy: approve or decline kids’ app download/purchase requests from your device. App store: direct kids to the “made for kids” section on the app store and add content restrictions (age range) so they only see age-appropriate apps. Combined limits: combine individual apps and websites and set limits. In app purchases: block the option of in app purchases. For instance, you can block the purchase of power-ups and other in-game options. Android and Chrome devices Google offers Family Link with tools to keep the entire family safer online including: Screen time limits: schedule downtime, set time limits for apps and guide children to age-appropriate content. Permissions management: set specific permissions for websites and extensions accessed through Chrome. Account management: change or reset passwords for kids’ accounts, edit personal information or delete an account if necessary. Location settings: locate kids on one map (if they are carrying their device) and receive notifications of arrivals/departures. Parents can also use the controls available on popular apps that kids use all the time. It’s not just about how much time kids spend online, it’s also about the content they consume. TikTok TikTok offers Family Pairing, which allows a parent or guardian to link their TikTok account to a kid’s account to better control content, privacy and well-being settings. Some of the key features in Family Pairing include: Private account: set your child’s account to private for restricted access. Comments/direct messages: limit who can comment on your child’s content and send them direct messages. Daily screen time: set time restrictions for app usage and track how much time kids spend on the app. Restricted mode: enable this feature with a password to limit exposure to unsuitable content. Video keywords: filter keywords and hashtags and choose which feeds your kids can see. In March 2023, TikTok released several new features to help parents ensure safer use of the app: 60-minute screen time limit: for kids under 13, parents need to enter a password to extend time on the app. Daily screen time: customize based on the day of the week and kids’ schedules. Screen time dashboard: at-a-glance view of app usage. Notifications: mute notifications to minimize disruptions. Meta In 2022, Meta introduced Family Center, which offers supervision tools for parents/guardians, as well as expert resources. The vision is to extend these capabilities across all Meta technologies with centralized management. Currently, parental controls are available for Instagram and include: Account management: kids can invite parents/guardians to manage their accounts or parents/guardians can request management access. Time management: see time spent on the app and set usage limits. Notifications: if your child reports someone, you receive a notification. Follow updates: get notifications when your kids follow someone or when someone follows them back. YouTube YouTube offers parents the option of creating a supervised account for kids under 13, so parents have more visibility into and control over age appropriate content. Many parents opt to create a YouTube Kids profile for their younger users and gain access to parental controls including: Block or share content Change content level settings Turn off the search feature Review watch history Disable autoplay. Parental controls and privacy settings are two great tools parents and guardians can use to help keep kids safe online but ongoing dialogue about online safety is still critical. If you are going to use parental controls, be upfront and let your child know you will be monitoring their online activities. Introduce controls early and proactively rather than waiting until your kids are older or using them as a consequence. By doing so, you can help your kids see parental controls as tools that give them more freedom online rather than hampering their independence. Learn more about how to keep your kids safe online with our online workshop for parents at telus.com/WiseWorkshops. FR versionAre your social media posts giving away too much this holiday season?
Written by Lynne Barrington (Communications Manager, TELUS Technology Strategy) In the excitement of the build up to the holiday season, it can be tempting to share our festive updates online. Posting about get-togethers, travel plans and the gifts we’re buying or receiving is all part of the fun, but oversharing could inadvertently let crooks know they have an ideal opportunity to strike. We don’t need to look far to find examples of how seemingly harmless posts have invited more than just ‘likes’. Social media users from all walks of life have found themselves the victim of crime after sharing too many details online. Kim Kardashian fell prey to ill-intentioned “followers” in 2016 after making numerous social media mentions about her location and flaunting pricey designer wares. When police caught up with the group that held her up in a Paris hotel, they admitted to following her posts to track her activities. “The jewels were shown on the Internet, and [she said] that she didn’t wear fakes,” one robber told police. ”You just had to look at the Internet and you knew everything, absolutely everything.” It’s not only famous people who are susceptible. Recently, a couple charged with a string of robberies in the U.S. confirmed they had prowled social media sites in search of victims. Another thief even ‘liked’ a post about a family’s vacation before seizing the opportunity to break into their house. Closer to home, this Canadian family made headlines when they were burgled after sharing news of their new pickup truck and upcoming trip to Disney World online. The holiday season can be hectic as we look forward to travelling to see loved ones and finding the perfect gift. Lawbreakers know this too and they capitalize on the frenzy. Use these tips to help put security first and make the most of your festive season’s posts: Delay posting holiday pics – checking in at the airport and sharing vacation pictures in real time can be fun, but it also sends a clear signal to would-be thieves that you’re not at home. Play it safe by not mentioning holiday plans in advance and avoid posting pictures that show your whereabouts in real time. Disable geotags on your devices – every time you take a photo with your smartphone or digital camera, details about when and where it was taken are stored. Some social networks remove location information when photos are uploaded, but some don’t. To prevent strangers from using these tags to find you or your home, disable location services on your devices. Alternatively, you can remove EXIF data to purge personal information from images you post. Limit access – fraudsters often create fake profiles and “friend” others to acquire personal information. One of the simplest ways to thwart them is to limit access. Connect with or accept friend requests only from people you know, and control who can see your profile and posts by reviewing your privacy settings. Tag photos with care – we all know it’s best to avoid posting something we could regret later. But social media isn’t always about what you post – it’s about what others post, too. Think twice before tagging images of friends or family at holiday events as their privacy standards may differ from yours. It’s always best to ask for permission before tagging someone. To protect yourself from unwanted tags, you should also check your own privacy settings so that others need to request tagging you in a photo. For more tips on staying safe online this holiday season, check out the TELUS Wise Tip Sheet or book a workshop by emailing [email protected]. FR versionCybersecurity threats are on the rise: Here’s what you need to know
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported 2021 as a historic year for financial losses due to cybercrime with Canadians losing more than $380 million from scams and fraud. With the majority of us sharing our personal information through online tools and platforms, how can we safely navigate the online world amidst increased cybersecurity risks? We sat down with Leigh Tynan, Director of TELUS Online Security and trusted cybersecurity expert, and Jessica Moorhouse, millennial money expert, to offer tips on how we can better protect ourselves.
Are your social media posts giving away too much this holiday season?
Written by Lynne Barrington (Communications Manager, TELUS Technology Strategy) In the excitement of the build up to the holiday season, it can be tempting to share our festive updates online. Posting about get-togethers, travel plans and the gifts we’re buying or receiving is all part of the fun, but oversharing could inadvertently let crooks know they have an ideal opportunity to strike. We don’t need to look far to find examples of how seemingly harmless posts have invited more than just ‘likes’. Social media users from all walks of life have found themselves the victim of crime after sharing too many details online. Kim Kardashian fell prey to ill-intentioned “followers” in 2016 after making numerous social media mentions about her location and flaunting pricey designer wares. When police caught up with the group that held her up in a Paris hotel, they admitted to following her posts to track her activities. “The jewels were shown on the Internet, and [she said] that she didn’t wear fakes,” one robber told police. ”You just had to look at the Internet and you knew everything, absolutely everything.” It’s not only famous people who are susceptible. Recently, a couple charged with a string of robberies in the U.S. confirmed they had prowled social media sites in search of victims. Another thief even ‘liked’ a post about a family’s vacation before seizing the opportunity to break into their house. Closer to home, this Canadian family made headlines when they were burgled after sharing news of their new pickup truck and upcoming trip to Disney World online. The holiday season can be hectic as we look forward to travelling to see loved ones and finding the perfect gift. Lawbreakers know this too and they capitalize on the frenzy. Use these tips to help put security first and make the most of your festive season’s posts: Delay posting holiday pics – checking in at the airport and sharing vacation pictures in real time can be fun, but it also sends a clear signal to would-be thieves that you’re not at home. Play it safe by not mentioning holiday plans in advance and avoid posting pictures that show your whereabouts in real time. Disable geotags on your devices – every time you take a photo with your smartphone or digital camera, details about when and where it was taken are stored. Some social networks remove location information when photos are uploaded, but some don’t. To prevent strangers from using these tags to find you or your home, disable location services on your devices. Alternatively, you can remove EXIF data to purge personal information from images you post. Limit access – fraudsters often create fake profiles and “friend” others to acquire personal information. One of the simplest ways to thwart them is to limit access. Connect with or accept friend requests only from people you know, and control who can see your profile and posts by reviewing your privacy settings. Tag photos with care – we all know it’s best to avoid posting something we could regret later. But social media isn’t always about what you post – it’s about what others post, too. Think twice before tagging images of friends or family at holiday events as their privacy standards may differ from yours. It’s always best to ask for permission before tagging someone. To protect yourself from unwanted tags, you should also check your own privacy settings so that others need to request tagging you in a photo. For more tips on staying safe online this holiday season, check out the TELUS Wise Tip Sheet or book a workshop by emailing [email protected].Protect Your Privacy on Your Devices
Protect Your Privacy on Your Devices Protecting your privacy is of the utmost importance. Our phones are an extension of our lives, so we want to help you make informed decisions on limiting the amount of personal info you share through your device. Here are some tips to help. AutoFill To save time, AutoFill saves your most commonly used info (banking/credit card info, passwords, contact information, etc.) and gives you the option to automatically fill in these blank forms. While this is definitely convenient, it can also be a liability should access to your device become compromised. To disable AutoFill on iOS: Tap the Settings icon Scroll to and tap on Safari Tap on AutoFill Disable the info in the categories you don't want to be saved in your device. To disable AutoFill on Android: Tap on Settings Tap on Privacy Tap on Auto-fill from Google Toggle off Use Auto-fill with Google Browsing Most native browsers offer a Private/Incognito mode that prevents information such as your cookies, website data, browsing history, or form data from being saved on your device. This means your activity won’t be available to any other website or any person who might come into possession of your device. Also consider using privacy-centric browsers such as: DuckDuckGo Android iOS Brave - Private Web Browser Android iOS Onion Browser iOS and more Disable Ad Tracking Protect yourself from the prying eyes of algorithms that track everything you do online including every website you visit, forms you fill, items looked at and/or purchased, and more. Their goal is to build an advertiser profile to target ads that may be of interest to you. To disable ad tracking on iOS: Tap on Settings Tap on Privacy & security Scroll to and tap on Apple Advertising Toggle off Personalized Ads To disable ad tracking on Android: Tap on Settings Tap on Google and then tap on Ads Tap on Delete Advertising ID *Note: certain Android devices may nest the setting as follows: Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete Advertising ID Location Services Leaving your device's location services enabled can have the following effects: The Good Help you find your phone should you lose it List the closest restaurants, banks, and other locations Quickly give you driving directions when you’re lost The Bad Embed GPS coordinates into your pictures Let apps and advertisers track your location May use more battery To disable location services on iOS: Tap on Settings Tap on Privacy Tap on Location Services Toggle off Location Services to disable it for all apps, or scroll down and limit access on a per-app basis To disable location services on Android: Tap on Settings Tap on Location Toggle off Location Services to disable it for all apps, or scroll down and limit access on a per-app basis *Note: an alternative to tapping on Settings is to swipe down from the top of the home screen to expose the notification shade and disable Location from quick settings. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) Do you use free public Wi-Fi on a semi or regular basis? These networks may lack proper security and can leave you vulnerable to theft of your data via interception by bad actors. Consider using a VPN service. VPN's act like parallel networks that tunnel through public Wi-Fi networks (or any internet connection in general). They mask your data enabling you to browse safely. To help you make an informed purchasing decision, we found some review blogs from top tech sites that rate various VPN services: CNET Tom’s Guide Techradar If you have any questions about privacy on your device, feel free to ask the community or reach out to us over at our Facebook page and we'll be there to help! FR version
