PROTECTING YOUR CHILD’S IDENTITY

Children can be victims of cybercrime and identity theft. Children whose identities have been stolen may not find out until they apply for a student loan or credit card and learn that a thief has been using their identities for years.

Parents or guardians of children should pay extra attention to safeguard their children’s information. Here are some ways to protect your child’s information:

• Check your child’s credit report annually. This can be done by contacting the credit reporting companies and providing proof of your identity and other documents.
• Never carry your child’s Social Security cards with you.
• Before you share your child’s SSN or other personal information, ask why it is needed and how it will be protected.
• If you suspect your child’s identity has been stolen, report it here.

RESOURCES

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  FERPA is a federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children’s education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records. When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student (“eligible student”)
• Identity Awareness Protection and Management Guide - Courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense
  An easy-to-understand guide to the most popular online services, mobile apps, and consumer devices available in the market today, along with step-by-step guides to implementing settings to maximize your security. While some of the topics in the guide deal with technical issues, it does not require a technical background to follow.
• Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media
  Most teens and preteens use some form of social media and have a profile on a social networking site. Many visit these sites every day. There are plenty of good things about social media — but also many risks and things kids and teens should avoid. To help them find the balance, it's important to talk with your kids about how to use social media wisely.
• National Child Protection Task Force - 7 Ways to Keep Kids Safe Online
  With schools in session, students may be re-establishing in-person friendships and making new ones, with social media being a major factor in many of these friendships. But kids can be exposed to unique risks in cyberspace. Help kids remember that cyber safety should always be a priority and check out these tips for promoting kids’ Internet security.
• Securing Key Accounts and Devices: Parental Controls
  Parental controls are available on most internet-enabled devices like computers, smartphones, tablets, and gaming systems. When enabling parental controls, use age-appropriate settings to filter, monitor, and block your child’s activities.
• Online Security Tips
  Learn how to protect your personal information and devices online and on-the-go.
• Keeping Children Safe Online
  When a child is using your computer, normal safeguards and security practices may not be sufficient. Children present additional challenges because of their natural characteristics: innocence, curiosity, desire for independence, and fear of punishment. You need to consider these characteristics when determining how to protect your data and the child.
• Protecting Kids Online
  The opportunities kids have to socialize online come with benefits and risks. Adults can help reduce the risks by talking to kids about making safe and responsible decisions.
• Dealing with Cyberbullies
  Forms of cyberbullying can range in severity from cruel or embarrassing rumors to threats, harassment, or stalking. It can affect any age group; however, teenagers and young adults are common victims, and cyberbullying is a growing problem in schools.
• OnGuardOnline.gov
  The best way to protect your kids online? Talk to them. While kids value the opinions of their peers, most tend to rely on their parents for help on the issues that matter most.ikeepsafe.org
• ConnectSafely.org
  Whether it’s social media, mobile technology, or the “Internet of Things,” connected technologies bring us enormous advantages, along with some challenges. ConnectSafely’s job is to help users get the most from their technology while managing the risks and help decision-makers craft sensible policies that encourage both innovation and responsible use. ConnectSafely has been a leading voice for rational, research-informed policies — not “moral panics” — when it comes to dealing with challenges brought about by emerging technologies.