Safety Tips for Kids with New Phones After Christmas

Parents who gift their children new smartphones this holiday season should review safety tips to protect them online, sheriff Eddie Hawkins advises.

Hawkins recommends setting parental controls for screen time, purchases, and age-appropriate content. He also suggests reviewing privacy settings on social media accounts and making them private before children start posting.

Officials warn about online dangers such as communicating with strangers, social media scams, fake profiles, and links that can steal personal information. Hawkins emphasizes the importance of teaching children not to share details like addresses, school names, routines, or photos of their homes.

He also advises discussing cyberbullying, explaining how to recognize it, avoid participating, and report it immediately. Children should understand that once something is posted online, it may never fully disappear, even if deleted.

Parents are encouraged to turn off location sharing on apps and social media platforms and foster open communication to help children report suspicious or uncomfortable interactions.

Hawkins concludes, “A new phone should bring joy—not risk. Taking a few simple steps can help keep your child safer this holiday season.”