Today, it’s almost unheard of for school-age children not to use the internet. In one way or another, they’ll have to go online to watch videos for entertainment, search for things on Google, take classes online, and so on.
But the internet is not always safe. This is why social media platforms have age restrictions. For example, on Instagram, a user has to be at least 13 years old to sign up. The same goes for other popular platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.
Kids are smart, though. They can find a workaround to be able to use these platforms. For example, they’ll change their birthday to reflect an older age and be allowed to register. This is why parental controls exist.
The Purpose of Parental Controls
Through parental control software and privacy settings, you can control most of your kid’s internet activity. You can block websites on devices that your kids use, whether it’s their smartphone or a family computer. You can also limit your kid’s screen time. And through parental controls, you can check your kid’s browser history and social media usage if you want to. You can even track the apps that your kid installs on their phone.
The main purpose of parental controls is to ensure that children can use the internet safely. But some parents have a difference of opinion on the matter. Some are for the use of parental controls, while others are against it. And this begs the question: is it essential for you to control your school-age child’s internet activity? Understanding the two sides of this issue will help you find your answer.
The Pros of Parental Controls
Using parental controls software has a lot of advantages both for you and your child.
Teach Obedience
As your kid grows up, they will have to follow several rules in different settings. For example, even preschoolers in an early childhood care center need to obey rules, such as tidying up their corners and being gentle with their classmates.
Thus, setting parental controls is one step to teach your child to be more obedient. This trait will benefit them as they grow up, making it very important to instill it in a child early.
Keep Your Child Safe
There are a lot of malicious people online that will prey on kids. For example, your kid might encounter a cyber predator. They might stalk your child and take advantage of their innocence to make them do dangerous things. Also, if left unsupervised, your kid might click on malicious links that can compromise your internet network at home.
That said, probably the best advantage of using parental controls is that they can keep your kid safe on the internet. You can keep them from accessing inappropriate content. And they’re less likely to be exposed to malicious parties online.
The Cons of Parental Controls
Of course, using parental controls also has its disadvantages.
Negative Implications on Parent-Child Relationships
In a child’s formative years, a strong and healthy parent-child relationship is crucial. It can help them establish their own positive relationships in the future and will improve their emotional intelligence. However, parental controls might affect your relationship with your kid.
For example, they likely won’t like that you can track their internet activity and phone usage through parental controls. They may feel like you’re spying on them and that you don’t trust them. So as they grow up, your kid might resort to sneaking around and being secretive, which has negative effects.
Additional Cost
Another disadvantage is the additional cost of using parental controls. Most of them can be used for free, but not all. You will have to pay a premium price to unlock certain features. You can take advantage of free trials, but they usually only last 7 days. Also, you may need to purchase certain devices to create a more secure internet network for your kid, such as a special home router.
What to Do
If you’re still torn on whether you should use parental controls, you can always find a middle ground. For example, if you choose to use them, inform your kids about your plan first. Explain why you will install parental control software on their devices.
You can also commit to limit how much you can control and track their online activity. For example, you can say that you won’t look at their browser history on the premise that sites you deem dangerous will be inaccessible to them anyway.
