Internet Safety

The Internet of Things is here to stay, and it’s part of your kids’ lives, too! So-called smart toys are Wi-Fi enabled, allowing children to interact in much more sophisticated ways than we could with the robotic dolls and remote-controlled cars of our own younger days. They come with bigger privacy concerns, too, including cameras and microphones that capture (and share) data when you might not know it. With the holidays just around the corner, we have some common-sense tips to keep in mind if your kids unwrap any Internet-connected playthings:

• Use strong passwords when registering for an account to use the toy.
• Connect only to trusted, secure Wi-Fi networks.
• Keep the toy’s software up to date.
• Turn off the toy completely when it’s not in use.

• Teach your child that playing with this toy is no different than being on the Internet on a device with a screen—the same good habits about sharing information apply.