How do you keep up with the technology & apps your kids are using? - £200 voucher to be won

[MaddyMumsnet]

Created for Vodafone
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Have the tech-tables turned on you? It can feel impossible to keep tabs on all the technology our children have access to when everything from our TVs and gaming consoles, to fridges and doorbells are connected. In fact, many parents feel their kids know more than them when it comes to digital technology. Therefore, we want to know whether you have tips on becoming more digital savvy.

• Post your stories, challenges or tips in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice.

Here’s what Vodafone has to say: “At Vodafone, we see taking action to help keep children safe online a priority. That’s why we’ve launched Digital Parenting Pro, one of the biggest parental controls and safety settings resources in the UK, to empower parents and carers to keep up with their kids and improve their own digital skills."

“Our research reveals parents and carers feel their child’s digital knowledge overtakes their own by the age of 12, this shows just how digitally savvy children are these days. Our new content rich hub is a place for adults to get information so they can feel confident about what their kids are up to online, what social media they use, games they play and threats they might come across."

“You can find the resources here.”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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I ask my older son (20) to help

Ds account is linked to dh so he has to ask permission to download apps, there is also a limit on his screen time that locks most of the apps on his phone when he's reached that limit

We all have IPhones/IPads so I can control timings/apps etc. but it isn’t fallible and the controls don’t do things like reduce screen time e.g. if you’ve granted a time of “all day” and want to change it.

So it takes trial and error!

We also have main devices like the Xbox, PC and iPads in the study or living room so we can overhear what they’re watching

My kids have giffgaff SIM cards which block access to adult sites if they’re using the internet on data connection. I think other mobile operators do this. All adult sites are also blocked via our internet provider up.

But the most important thing is talking to your DCs, having regular screen breaks to do other stuff and actually check devices. Most restrictions/controls aren’t perfect.

For example my latest big bear is Spotify. It does not have the ability to block borderline pornographic podcasts (you cannot block any artist despite paying for Spotify!!) and Spotify kids is too babyish for a 13 year old. I suspect other music providers are the same.

I used to feel very up to date with everything, but I must say that as I'm getting a bit older I'm losing touch with what my children are using very quickly!
Google is my friend for when I don't know what they're talking about - and there is usually a good vid on YouTube to support with using tech I haven't used before.

Our son is only allowed to use the internet downstairs so I can keep an eye on what’s going on. We use Google Family link so we can check what’s going on ourselves.

Open lines of communication. It's not monitoring, it's sharing.

I always monitor my kids when they go online. I have all the safety precautions installed to their devices to filter out unwanted content.

A combination of discussion and parental settings. We use Google family link and MS family safety apps. Nothing can be installed without entering a code. We don't shy away from discussing the reality of what's out there on the Internet: people deliberately trying to trick you, steal, upset you...

Thankfully I've always been interested in and grew up with technology so I consider myself very tech savvy, however even I have moments of doubt on some things so my number one tip is YouTube! There are hundreds of channels dedicated to providing information and tips on EVERYTHING. I've had some really obscure software and hardware issues when I've repaired PC's and i've almost always found the answer on YouTube. Highly recommended!

Get involved with what they are doing...play the games, watch the videos....get them to teach you.

I'm really tech savvy. Most devices operate in the same way as another.

For example Iphone and android phones. People think they're worlds apart, but honestly all the general stuff is the same. Swipe left or right for apps, use search function at the top. And settings are always in settings.

That goes with tablets too.

Quite honestly though, the best way to be tech savvy is to press buttons. Don't be afraid to break something, the likelihood is you wont.
Persevere with it. No one ever gets good at something without practise.

Every device has a guide and google will tell you what you need to know.

If you struggle with written instructions, youtube shows you instead.

If you need parental controls on the internet, some providers have a setting on the router. Others offer a free antivirus which will have the settings in.

Did you know you can set times on your router, so it stops the wifi?

Can be handy for the naughty monkeys who wont go to sleep.
Again your internet provider will likely have a guide on their website.

I wouldn't say im particularly "digital savvy" but what I do have is a very open and honest relationship with my daughter.
We talk about everything that goes on in her digital world, from a friend that has text, to playing Roblox and strange people asking for her info.

I do find it hard to keep up to date with all the new apps that come out that they use! But I find it helps if I get her involved by getting her to show me how it works and what to do on it and she's more than happy to show me!

Having learned the hard way no computers or consoles in bedrooms nor mobile phones overnight. Computer and consoles in room off kitchen I can keep an eye on.

I've always been tech savvy, my first job after university was computer programming and I like gadgets and new ways to communicate. My kids have knowledge and skills way beyond mine - computing and communication is such a big deal in schools these days, whereas we had one computer on a trolley for the whole school!

I'm still the only one who can work the printer at home though.

DD is only 6. She doesn’t have any of her own tech and occasionally uses our tablet or phone to use a colouring app. She has recently started using dash note derby to practice piano notes and a chess app but we still only let her do it supervised. I feel like I need to learn all about keeping her safe online before the time comes when she has her own devices! Hopefully, it’s a while still ..

I make sure I’m connected with my daughter on social media and we talk about being careful, scams, etc. She isn’t interest in gaming which I’m pleased about as I know nothing about this. I am confident that she is sensible and hope that if there was something she felt was dodgy she would feel comfortable talking to me about it.

I have controls on most things and perhaps more than their peers. I don't feel that I know as much as I perhaps should but I am keen to know more.

Currently very easy for me to control this because my baby is only 1! But I anticipate in future trying to strike a balance between close monitoring and allow them to make low stakes decisions re the technology they use.

My kids are far more tech-savvy than I am. If I have a problem with either my computer or mobile, they are the first port of call.

I think I'm fairly savvy. I much prefer doing banking etc online with apps. The same with shopping. Once you get over the fear of using something new, it really does make life easier. Children nowadays are just around it from a early age they don't know any different.

My childrens school send a weekly update highlighting and educating different apps on what is popular at the moment and how to make them as secure as you can as a parent which i think is great

I usually do a google search, and then check youtube.
It can be difficult as the tech is constantly chaging and evolving.

My DS is 10 and extremely techno and computer savvy. He is an expert on Powerpoint and Word....(better than me) , funny enough he loves letters and fonts , he types away and has for a long time memorised all the fonts and can look at any sign, book, newspaper and tell you which font it is.!!! Regardless to say he is more advanced in using the computer, gaming, VR, tablet, phone etc....but I make a point of being involved, playing with him so that I can see who he's playing with, talking to, messaging etc.
I delete any suspect things, games, you tube channels, and feel I constantly take time to overview any new games etc in order for him to be safe....
The computer is in the family room so he's never isolated/ in private whilst gaming as he doesn't need to be.
I do go to school Online Safety forums and check things out on You Tube. I am also lucky to have a Computer Engineering elder DS who keeps us all up to date and looks out for his younger brother.
Definitely more security Computer inventions need to be made for parents to keep family safe as it's constantly evolving, even basics like banking, fake websites, crypto currency etc....my advice is to stay involved and be present and reviewing regularly with what your children are doing regularly.

I think it is almost impossible to keep up with kids as they just seem to absorb things so quickly while it takes me ages to try and learn the same thing they do but I do still keep trying my best to at least know the basics of what it is they are using and I always make sure and figure out how to activate parental controls on everything they use or at least supervise them when using something that I do not know well.

It's hard to keep up. New things are coming out all the time and I can't possibly keep a track. Older members of my family regularly check for me and give me a heads up.It's as though where there's a will there's a way and youngsters can be secretive, not just about apps. It's making them aware of the dangers that's hard, they think they know it all.