Keeping Kids Safe on Discord and Online Platforms – 9/25/2023
You might remember setting up a “telephone” with a friend made with cups and a string. Or feel nostalgic for the novelty of having your own phone line in your home growing up. Meanwhile, we’re raising the digital generation. They game online, chat online, stream TV online…everything is online. One popular channel for kids’ conversations? Discord. Here’s help keeping your kids safe on this and other online platforms.
Discord is a popular communication platform connecting communities of people online. It’s particularly popular with gamers. But kids use it for real-time voice and video calls, screen sharing, and group or private chats.
Ultimately, Discord is a versatile and powerful platform. That means it’s important to guide young users in using it responsibly.
Keeping Kids Safe on Discord
Discord requires its users to be at least 13 years old, but this is not enforced. Protecting your kids requires communication, as well as an understanding of the platform’s safety features.
Discord users can share text messages, images, GIFs, videos, and links in their channels. That means your child may encounter inappropriate content.
Reduce the probability by setting up Family Center to connect your account with your child’s:
Open Discord.
Tap on Family Center.
In user Settings, toggle the Enable Family Center tab.
Scan the QR code under your child’s Connect with Your Parent option in their Family Center tab.
Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to see friend requests, who they make calls to, and who they have messaged, although you won’t be able to see the content of those calls and messages. You can also track which servers (think of it like a text thread) they take part in. You can also receive weekly recaps via email.
It’s also a good idea to:
Encourage your child to accept friend requests only from people they know in real life;
Review their friend list to ensure no unfamiliar users are added;
Set up Safe Direct Messaging, which prevents direct messages from users not on the friend list;
Review and adjust privacy settings to enable content filters and to control who can send friend requests, see their online status, and more.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on the account for added security.
Online Safety for Kids
Controls can help, but you probably want to pair online safety with giving autonomy.
Communicate with your child about online safety. Teach them about not sharing personal information and reporting any uncomfortable situations. Remind them that someone may not be who they say they are. Warn them of the risks of meeting up with someone they meet online.
Setting screen time limits can also help curtail your child’s online activity. This encourages them to set boundaries and continue to develop other interests.
Lead by example by limiting your own online time and treating others with kindness. Encouraging critical thinking can also help your child’s digital literacy. Ask them to think about a cyberbully’s motives, or discuss why taking responsibility for online activity is important.
Finally, let them know they can come to you with concerns or uncomfortable situations. Online safety is an ongoing process. Stay involved in and updated about your child’s online activities.
Need help understanding new technologies your child is using? Our IT experts can help set up a safer online environment for your entire family. Call us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
“What’s that password again? Wait, I changed it… Harrumph. I don’t remember!” We’ve all been there, sometimes many times a day. Password autofill on our Web browsers felt like the sun was shining on our online activity again. Sorry to tell you, but this convenience may not be entirely safe.
Most browsers will ask after you’ve entered a new password into a site or changed a password if you want it stored for you. That way, when you revisit that site, the browser can autofill the access credentials for you. It saves you the struggle of trying to keep all your passwords straight.
The problem is that some sites, including legitimate sites, can be compromised with a hidden form. You’ll never see it, but your browser will. So, it will autofill that form, and in clear, unencrypted text. This allows bad actors to capture your username and password without your knowledge.
Another risk? Irresponsible digital marketers may use hidden autofill forms to track your online activity. That’s done without your consent.
Using browser autofill with a password manager can also cause confusion, especially if your browser autofills, whereas the manager asks before filling in forms. Using both at the same time you also run the risk of duplicating passwords, which could make it difficult to track your passwords and increase the risk of security breach.
How to disable autofill
You can protect your passwords by disabling autofill on any browser you use:
On Microsoft Edge, go to Settings, then Profiles, then Passwords, and disable “Offer to save passwords.”
On Google Chrome, go to Settings, then Passwords, and disable “Offer to save passwords.”
On Firefox, open Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Logins and Passwords, and “Autofill logins and passwords.”
On Safari, from the Preferences window, select and turn off Auto-fill.
Can I keep using password managers?
A password manager, such as LastPass or 1Password, typically provides more security than browser autofill. Password managers have strong encryption algorithms to protect your login credentials, which means that even if your device is compromised, your passwords are safe.
Still, if the manager autofills your credentials, you face the same risks. Most password managers have autofill disabled by default. That’s good. Leave preemptive autofill off. You might see it called “Autofill on page load.” Keep that turned off, too.
Our advice? Use a password manager that requires you to click a box before it fills in your credentials. This action avoids your information from automatically populating a hidden form.
Securing your online activity is an ongoing challenge. Our experts can help identify ways you can protect your privacy and data online. Contact us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our contact page.
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