The CareSide’s Post

An Australian proposal to ban social media for children under 16 raises important security concerns. While we adults grapple with the daily threats of financial scams, identity theft, and cyberattacks, the digital landscape poses unique challenges for younger minds. Studies have highlighted the mental health impacts of excessive online activity and the vulnerability of children to online exploitation, including cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to harmful content. However, a blanket ban might not be the optimal solution. It could create a generation unfamiliar with digital risks, making them more susceptible to future threats. A holistic approach that combines parental guidance, time limits, robust security measures, and a balanced digital-offline lifestyle may be a more effective strategy. By empowering young people with digital literacy skills and fostering responsible online behavior, we can equip them to navigate the digital world safely and securely. Here are some key strategies to consider: *Parental Involvement: Parents should actively monitor their children's online activity, set clear guidelines, and engage in open conversations about digital safety. *Time Limits: Implementing screen time limits can help balance online and offline activities, promoting physical and mental well-being. *Robust Security Measures: Utilizing strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and using privacy settings can help protect personal information. *Digital Literacy Education: Teaching children about online safety, critical thinking, and responsible social media use can empower them to make informed decisions. *Balanced Digital-Offline Lifestyle: Encouraging a variety of activities, including sports, hobbies, and social interactions, can help prevent excessive screen time and promote overall well-being. By adopting a comprehensive approach, we can mitigate the risks associated with social media while empowering young people to thrive in the digital age. There is no one size fits all approach. #cybersecurity #digitalprivacy #onlinesafety #mentalhealth

🎤 On Nov 12th I delivered Think Smart's Cyber Safety Talk to Parents and Adults who work with children and young adults in the Maree/Oranmore Community. 💙 Thanks to the Maree Community Group for getting in touch and asking me to deliver this. They realised just how big an issue this whole area of protecting our youth online has become, and the huge impact it is now having on our youth in the Community. They wanted to raise awareness with a wider reach by inviting all local organisations like GAA and Soccer coaches but also all Schools in the area to have an even bigger impact. 💥 It was a sold-out event with over 100 attendees who were interested in understanding this whole area and how they can take some key measures to help protect their children and youth online, and ultimately their futures. 😲 Many were shocked by the facts and information presented in relation to online risks and dangers including the rise of mental health issues and also legal implications. 🙏 However, they were so thankful afterwards now knowing this information. The also said they felt a lot more empowered both from understanding all more and from the follow-up resources provided to help them put controls in place and have the conversations needed with their children. (See feedback comments in the video) 🎄 With holiday season fast approaching, I will be delivering an online webinar "Think Smart, Gift Smart" for parents and guardians on Dec 4th next at 8PM. This is to help provide advice and support again here and create awareness of the dangers but also the protective measures that need to be taken in relation to smart devices and social media apps. 🎁 I am gifting the first 50 places for free to those who sign-up using the code THINKSMART. They are filling up fast so if you want to join you will find the link below. Hopefully we can get even more children protected before they are gifted smart devices this Christmas.. let's give them a gift and not a threat! https://lnkd.in/eGFCrdQv #onlinesafety #thinksmart #giftsmart #childprotection #smartdevices #socialmedia #actsmart #knowledgeiskey #parents #guardians #protectouryouth #smarttech

Is Your Child Safe Online? Essential E-Safety Tips for Every Parent! In today's digital age, ensuring your child's online safety is more crucial than ever. With over 175,000 children logging onto the internet for the first time each day, the risks they face are significant. From cyberbullying to online predators, the virtual world can be a dangerous place for young minds. Here's a handy e-safety guide to help parents navigate these challenges and keep their children safe online. Key Insights: Cyberbullying: Online harassment can occur on social media, messaging apps, and games. It's often repeated behavior aimed at scaring or shaming the target. Exposure to Harmful Content: Children can easily come across inappropriate content such as hate speech, violence, and pornography. Online Sexual Exploitation: Offenders may contact potential victims through social networking sites, grooming them for exploitation. Disinformation: Kids can encounter false or misleading information online, which can be harmful. Privacy Breaches: Unauthorized access to personal data shared online is a significant risk. Online Frauds and Scams: Children can fall for fake apps or gaming scams, leading to financial and physical threats. How to Stay Safe: Use a VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates a secure tunnel for your data, making it harder for hackers to access your information. Avoid Sensitive Transactions: Refrain from making online transactions or accessing sensitive information while on public Wi-Fi. Check for HTTPS: Ensure the websites you visit use HTTPS, which encrypts the data exchanged between your browser and the website. Disable Auto-Connect: Turn off the auto-connect feature on your devices to prevent them from automatically joining public Wi-Fi networks. Use Security Software: Keep your devices protected with up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software. Screen Time Guidelines: Under 2 Years: No screen time, except for occasional video calls with relatives. 2-5 Years: Limit screen time to one hour per day, under parental guidance. Older Children: Balance screen time with physical activity, sleep, schoolwork, and family time. Warning Signs to Watch For: Behavioral Changes: Unusual quietness, aggression, or requests for more privacy. Emotional Indicators: Mood swings, social withdrawal, or a decline in academic performance. Physical Changes: Increased time on mobile devices, sleep disturbances, or headaches. Communication is Key: Be a Role Model: Set a good example by limiting your own screen time. Encourage Open Dialogue: Talk to your children about their online activities and the importance of online safety. Monitor Usage: Keep an eye on the apps and websites your children use, and set appropriate boundaries. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and keep the lines of communication open. #CyberSafety #OnlineSafety #ParentingTips #DigitalParenting #StaySafeOnline

BetterHelp has agreed to pay $7.8 million to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after accusations of using and sharing people’s health information without permission for advertising. BetterHelp, started in 2013, offers online therapy sessions as an alternative to in-person counseling. It connects people with licensed therapists through text, chat, phone, and video calls. Many users seek help for depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, and other issues. After looking into how BetterHelp handled user data, the FTC found that the service collected information from app users and website visitors without their consent. This data was then shared with companies like Facebook, Snapchat, Criteo, and Pinterest. The information included email and IP addresses, as well as answers to health questions from the sign-up process. BetterHelp promised not to share this personal health data except for counseling purposes. However, the FTC said BetterHelp used this data to target ads for its services to similar users, which brought in lots of new customers and money. As part of the settlement, BetterHelp will pay $7.8 million in refunds to affected consumers. #cybersecurity #cybersecurityawareness #cybersecuritynews #technews #hacking #thecyberbulletins #betterhelp

Fraudsters often target the elderly, hoping to get their hands on their hard-earned money. Here are online safety tips to consider: General Stay Safe Tips · Use strong and unique passwords · Be careful before you click. · Be wary of any offer that’s too good to be true · Only shop at reputable online merchants. · When shopping or banking look for secure websites  · Do some research before donating to online causes. · Protect against identity theft. · Monitor your online financial accounts · Beware of scam calls or emails: banks and online service providers (such as PayPal and Amazon) will never call or send an email to ask for information or to update information · Don’t send personal information in response to generic emails Tech Security 101 · Be smartphone savvy: learn how to use your mini-computer · Avoid pressure to buy what you may not need and review your internet service plans · Secure your Internet router at home by adding a password · Protect your devices by ensuring they are password protected and, in the case of computers, ensure you have good security and firewall software in place. In the case of Samsung, smartphones make use, your device protection is turned on · Reach out for help Source: https://lnkd.in/giw-_M8j #AridanSupports #Fraudweek

Check out some common tech myths https://bit.ly/4gdjwV2 #Tech #Myths #TechMyths #ITSupport #ComputerSupport #ComputerServices #MSP #Leeds #Harrogate #York

🔒 ONSCREEN: Ensuring #Safety and #Privacy in Senior Communication In today's digital age, the question of security, especially for seniors engaging in video calls, is more relevant than ever. How do we protect older adults from the risks of unauthorized access and ensure their conversations remain private? At ONSCREEN, we don't just prioritize #connectivity; we ensure it's wrapped in the highest level of security. Our video calling system is designed with seniors in mind, implementing end-to-end encryption to safeguard every call. This means that every conversation is securely encoded, from start to finish, ensuring that only the intended recipients - family, friends and authorized people - can tune in. 🛡️ With ONSCREEN, the risk of unwelcome intruders, such as scammers or spammers, is eliminated. Our system ensures that #olderadults can enjoy the enriching experience of video calls without the worry of compromised privacy. In a world where #digitalsafety is paramount, we're proud to offer a solution that seniors and their families can trust. Stay connected, stay secure. ➡ Discover more here: https://lnkd.in/dwdAjHQp #agetech #seniorcare #seniorliving #telehealth #telemedicine #aicompanion #ai #generativeai #SeniorCare #AgingParents #CaregivingOptions #technology #caregivers #caregiving #healthcare #healthvisits

Spreading Hope This Festive Season: The Power of Mobile Safety As the festive season approaches and schools close in South Africa, our communities come together to celebrate. However, amidst the joy, we're often reminded of the harsh reality of missing persons. The Alarming Truth: We've all seen the heartbreaking posts on social media: "Missing Child" or "Help Find [a particular person]". These pleas for help are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of our loved ones. Hope in Action: According to recent statistics, many missing children are reunited with their families. In fact IOL, reveals that an astonishing 77% of 348 cases of missing children reported from September 2023 to end of Feb 2024 were found. The Critical Difference: What sets apart those who are found from those who aren't? Often, it's the presence of mobile safety measures: 1. Mobile phone tracking 2. Emergency push buttons 3. Parenting apps 4. Location-sharing services These simple yet powerful tools can make all the difference in locating a missing child. As we head into the festive season, let's prioritize our children's safety. At Bakgatla Universal Transcended Technologies, we're committed to empowering parents and individuals with innovative mobile security solutions. Take proactive steps to safeguard your child and/or your loved ones: 1. Ensure their phone has a tracking device or app 2. Install parenting apps for monitoring and control 3. Educate them on online safety and digital citizenship 4. Set up emergency SOS features Let's work together to create a safer community for our children. Share this post with your network and help spread awareness. Contact us on WhatsApp 066 469 2088 or visit our website on https://lnkd.in/dpaE-hd4 to explore our mobile security solutions. #ChildSafety #MobileSecurity #FestiveSeason #MissingPersons #SouthAfrica #ParentingTips #TrackingDevices #CyberSecurity #AndroidSecurity #iPhoneParentalControls #SamsungSaftey #HuaweiSecurity

🚨 Breaking News 🚨 BetterHelp needs a little help after agreeing to cough up a whopping $7.8 million in a settlement with the FTC over mishandling consumer health data! 😬💸 Time to hit the cybersecurity gym, folks! 💪🔒 💭 Let's dissect this, shall we? Here's why this should matter to all my IT gurus and cybersecurity wizards out there: 🔒 Data Privacy: BetterHelp's misstep highlights the ongoing battle to safeguard consumer data. Are we doing enough to protect our users' sensitive info? 🤔 🔍 Transparency Matters: Transparency is non-negotiable when it comes to handling user data. We need to be crystal clear about how we use and protect that information. 🔍💡 👩💻 Future Predictions: What's next in the wild world of data privacy? Will this settlement serve as a wake-up call for companies to step up their data protection game? 🚨🔮 🛡️ Stay Alert: Cyber threats are evolving faster than a Marvel superhero. Are we up to date with the latest security measures to combat potential risks? 🔒🦸 Don't let your guard down, tech warriors! This news is a reminder to always keep a watchful eye on data practices and ensure we're one step ahead of the game. 💻⚔️ #ainews #automatorsolutions Let's chat! What are your thoughts on this cybersecurity showdown? How can we amp up data privacy measures in our tech realm? 💭💬 Let's brainstorm some genius solutions together! 🚀 #CyberSecurityAINews ----- Original Publish Date: 2024-05-07 09:50

I strongly believe we need stronger social media regulations, but I’m concerned that a complete ban for under-16s is an overreach. 🏫 Child safety issues persist in schools: As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand that challenges kids face today are often complex and not purely social media-based. My son experienced mistreatment that was largely unaddressed by the school. When he finally defended himself, he was suspended, while those responsible stayed to do the same to other students. The NSW Department of Education ultimately relied on bureaucracy to justify their approach, leaving the root issues unresolved. 👮♀ Blanket ‘protecting children’ argument: Often, protecting children is used as a catch-all justification for restrictive policies. While it’s hard to argue against protecting kids, we should be cautious about using this as a reason to limit rights more broadly. 👩⚖️ Corporate accountability: Just as local businesses are held accountable for underage sales, large tech companies should be held to similar standards for keeping their platforms safe. Age verification shouldn’t fall solely on parents and kids - platforms need to be liable too. 🔐 Security concerns: With multiple high-profile data breaches, Australia has seen the vulnerabilities in our systems. We must ensure that whatever age verification systems are implemented don’t introduce new weaknesses. Protecting children must also mean protecting their data and their privacy from being compromised. Social media presents real risks, but I believe effective regulation needs a more balanced approach. How do we strike the right balance? #SocialMediaBan #Australia #ChildSafety #DataPrivacy #CyberSecurity