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A Hungarian website collected some advice on how to protect our children online
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After the government closed all schools, they introduced a digital education in Hungary during which children have to use several platforms to communicate with their teachers and classmates. Child protection online collected the most important information for parents about the platforms their children are now using.
Chat programs
Facebook Messenger: accessible both from desktop and smartphone, it can be used to send texts, photos, videos, and to launch video conferences. The age limit for registration is 13. It is linked with Instagram, so it can easily distract students. Since these programs collect a lot of data about the users (the so-called digital footprint), it is important not to share any personal data and not to get in touch with people they do not know.
WhatsApp: the parameters are the same as above, but the registration only requires a phone number. It also allows buying and selling products, and the age limit for registration is 13 years, too. Owned by Facebook,
it collects a lot of data as well,
monitoring not only the geographical location of the user but also their relationships, etc.Â
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Viber: The application works like the above-mentioned ones, but it promises end-to-end encryption, and it also allows sending self-destroying messages that can be dangerous in the case of cyberbullying. A QR-code reader is built in, but its use should not be allowed for students. Provided that students use their account, they should not give any personal information, and notifications should be switched off as well.
Child protection online recommends all three apps to be used under parental supervision, and, if possible, through the account of one of the parents so that students’ activity can be monitored easily.
Further programs that can be used for video conferences
Skype: we can also send written messages by using it, and we can organise video conferences in which a maximum of 24 people can take part so it can function well even for classes. The age limit for registration is the same as above, but with parental compliance, even children under 13 can register. However,
they are invisible to unknown people.
Google Hangouts: the program’s main advantage is that it is owned by Google, so it can be combined with many of the company’s other apps and products. Children under 13 can use it only with parental supervision.
Zoom: it is widely used for video conferences, and even its free version can be used by more than 100 people. It only requires an email address, students can join meetings by a code provided by their teacher, and the conversations can be recorded.
GoToMeeting: LogMeIn, the developer of the platform, allows educational institutions to use it for free for 3 months, and people can join the conferences even without registration.