Digital forensics expert shares advice after giving children their first tech device

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Many kids are making the most of their new phones, iPads and laptops now that Christmas is over, but there are online dangers that need to be made known to them.

Social media can be an entertaining experience, but it also brings with it curated content, disinformation and sometimes online threats.

Laura McLester, assistant professor and program coordinator for the UAB Digital Forensics Program, reminds parents that platforms come with terms of service.

She said many of them require the user to be 13 years old.

However, she says some researchers argue that this is still too young.

She says parents should sit down with their child and go through privacy settings together, explaining what aligns with their family values and why parental controls may be limited on certain apps.

“Just as we don’t take young children into new environments, be it restaurants or weddings, without saying so, I expect you to behave,” McLester shared. “We won’t scream ‘fire’ in the middle of the vow. We’re not going to walk around the restaurant and play catch. The same applies to the online world. It’s one world. So set expectations and tell them we expect this behavior from you.”

Of course, parents plan to monitor their child’s social media use on a family-by-family basis.

The expert recommends talking to children regularly about these platforms and making it a family conversation and not a private conversation.

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