As families head into the festive season, children will naturally spend more time online, whether exploring new devices, playing games, or connecting with friends.

This makes it more important than ever for parents to stay vigilant and use the tools available to create a safe digital environment.

According to Vodacom, children face a variety of risks online.

While adults may be vulnerable to phishing, smishing, and vishing attacks, children encounter different dangers, including online predators, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.

Another significant concern is excessive screen time, which can negatively impact a child’s mental well-being.

Together, these risks make it crucial for parents to supervise and manage their children’s online activities – particularly for those under 10.

The mental health dangers of too much screen time

In an episode of Tech Talk with Vodacom, which explored the effect of modern technology on mental health, guest expert Dr Skye Scott highlighted the importance of controlling children’s online access.

She noted that although this may be more challenging with teenagers, it remains essential for younger children. Dr Scott recommended that children aged two years and younger should not be exposed to mobile devices at all.

According to Dr Scott, excessive use of mobile devices can lead to inattention, poor short-term memory, impulsivity, and learning difficulties. She also explained that some online content can create “fake highs,” which may cause children to react inappropriately to real-world situations.

Solutions for safer screen time

Parents can manage this issue in two main ways:

• By setting traditional, manual boundaries for device usage, or

• By using technology such as parental control apps that regulate everything from accessible apps and content to daily screen time limits and specific device-use schedules.

Vodacom highlights several tools that parents can use to manage their children’s online activity without removing their devices altogether.

Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a user-friendly tool that helps parents remotely manage their children’s devices.

It allows them to set screen-time limits, control when the device turns on and off, choose which apps a child can access, and monitor the child’s location.

Android devices automatically prompt parents to set up the app once they enter a child’s email address and age. This setup requires creating a Gmail account for the child and providing accurate birth information.

Bark parental control

Bark is available on both computers and mobile devices running Android or iOS.

It enables parents to track their child’s location, monitor the content they access, block websites, and manage screen time.

It is an AI-driven system that scans text messages, emails, and activity across more than 30 social media apps and browsers, alerting parents to potential issues such as bullying, sexting, or signs of depression. Bark also offers a package compatible with smart TVs and gaming consoles.

Qustodio

Qustodio works across multiple platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Kindle, and Chromebook.

It allows parents to monitor device usage and alerts them if children attempt to access blocked content. In addition to standard features like app control and screen-time regulation, Qustodio enables parents to track calls and messages, view text content, monitor contacts, and block specific phone numbers.

By setting healthy boundaries, monitoring screen time, and using trusted parental-control apps, parents can help ensure their children enjoy the holidays without being exposed to unnecessary online risks. A safer digital space means a happier, more relaxed festive season for the whole family.