What parents need to know about their middle schooler's experience online

Tom's Guide

2 days ago

If you ask almost any adult what their most difficult time growing up was, most will probably answer, "middle school." The halfway point between childhood and adulthood can be a chaotic time. Your kids are changing, their social circles are expanding and the internet can become a much more intense place.
As children get older and more independent, their digital equipment gets deeper and more sophisticated. Adding safety measures is likely going to be accepted uncritically by elementary school–aged children, but with middle schoolers, the pushback begins in earnest. That's why you'll need tactics and tools like those offered by Norton 360 Deluxe with Parental Control to make sure you're on the same page with your kids about their online safety. We'll give you some pointers on where to get started.
This tip is really the bedrock upon which every other rule is built. That said, sometimes it's easier said than done. As your kid leaves behind their precocious childhood, they're going to start testing boundaries. The problems become more complex and the solutions less black and white. Your child should know they can bring you any issue without it resulting in immediate punishment or stonewalling. It may be difficult to get them to open up at times, but it will pay dividends in the long run.
Norton 360 Deluxe lets you block questionable sites across your computer, iOS and Android devices, but your middle schooler may still try to get around them. When your child tries to bypass your parental controls, you'll get an alert that someone tried to access blocked content. It even gives them the chance to open a dialogue with you for why they think certain sites should be allowed. That's what the Access Request feature is for, after all.
Middle school tends to be when most young people get access to their first personal phone. To them, it means more freedom, but for you, it's also a simple way to keep an eye on their location. Norton 360 Deluxe's map tool allows you to access a 30-day history of their device's location, along with their real-time positioning. You can create approved locations and get alerts if they go outside of them, so you'll know if they're sneaking out during a sleepover. You can also create a schedule for automated check-ins, so you can know where they're hanging out after band practice every Thursday.
For good or ill, social media is something we have to deal with. On the positive side, it gives your kid constant access to their friends. On the negative side, it gives your kid constant access to everyone else, too. Being able to monitor your child's social media is vital. Norton 360 Deluxe starts by preventing them from losing their accounts with Account Takeover Protection, but it also monitors their feed for odd posts and inappropriate content. Remember, the internet lives forever. This is a good way to make sure they don't say anything as a middle schooler that they may regret when they're trying to get into college.
There used to be a sense of escape, you know? If you were being bullied at school, at the very least, you'd be able to go home and unplug from that stress. Not anymore. Now, those bullies have nothing better to do than stay online and say nasty things to provoke a reaction. As a part of the social media monitoring package, Norton 360 Deluxe can flag cyberbullying content and hate speech, keeping you aware of the kinds of things your kid is dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Being a trusted resource that your child can turn to during these times is absolutely necessary. They may think they're grown-up, but they still rely on your guidance.
Still searching for answers? Need to go more in-depth? Alongside the National PTA, Norton developed The Smart Talk to do just that. If you want more guidance on how to deal with cyberbullying issues or navigate social media, Norton has you covered.