Pens, pencils, paper, bookbags, and other assorted items are probably on many a parent’s to-do list as students head back to school.
There’s one more item to add to the list: online safety and the protection of a student’s personal identification.
BBB encourages parents or guardians to have a conversation with their child, regardless of age, about the dangers that lurk in the online world:
Warn them about creating accounts on websites without permission: Social media sites are rife with ill-intentioned strangers. Some sites are designed to collect and sell unauthorized user details and behaviors to advertisers looking to engage in targeted marketing.
Contests and giveaways: Contests and giveaways often collect personal and financial information that could lead to identity theft. Make sure your child doesn’t have access to banking or credit card information and supervise the filling out of any forms.
Understand apps. Certain apps might collect and share personal information about your child or target your child with ads. Check out exactly what that app does when it’s in use.
File sharing sites: Many websites allow children to download free media, but sites like this often come with the risk of downloading a virus or allowing identity thieves to access your device.
Find more tips on BBB’s Back-to-School HQ: https://www.bbb.org/all/back-to-school