THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 23, 2024 Page 9 Better Business Bureau Tip: Back to school internet safety tips B uying new supplies and clothes is not enough as your children return to school this year. You also should be thinking about how to help them stay safe online and avoid being easy targets for online scammers. Parents: Be careful. Creating accounts on websites without permission: Social media sites are ripe with strangers with intentions that might be quite different than yours. Many sites are designed to collect and sell unauthorized user details and behaviors to advertisers seeking targeted marketing. When creating an account, some kids might falsely create a birthdate to meet the minimum age requirement. Know what your child is doing online and keep track of the social media sites and accounts to which they have access. Contests and giveaways: Contests and giveaways often collect a hefty amount of personal information on their entry forms. Many are thinly disguised ways of collecting personal or financial information that could lead to identity theft. Ensure your child doesn’t have access to banking or credit card information, and supervise the filling out of any forms. Phishing: Adults are not the only ones who receive spam and junk mail. Kids often get junk mail, and since they don’t have much online experience, they are more susceptible to clicking on links and answering questions they probably shouldn’t. While some emails might be legitimate, the last thing parents want, or need, is a $500 bill from a fraudulent website where a purchase might have been made – or worse – giving up personal information that can be tracked back to your home. Understand apps. Short for “applications,” apps are downloaded software that operates on various devices, such as smartphones. However, certain apps might collect and share personal information about your child or target your child with ads. Even free apps might include paid features, and children might not understand that some apps or game features cost money since they were labeled free to download. They might click on these so-called free games and cost parents or guardians a hefty bill at the end of the month. File sharing sites: Many websites allow children to download free media. A child might not realize that these sites often come with the risk of downloading a virus, allowing identity thieves to access the gaming device, personal computer or cell phone that’s being used. From there, the cyberthief can track financial transactions and physical location or even tap into the household Wi-Fi without anyone knowing it. Tips on how to manage online privacy for the family: Know about the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU). CARU’s self-regulatory program provides detailed guidance to children’s advertisers on how to deal sensitively and honestly with children’s issues. These guidelines go beyond the issues of truthfulness and accuracy to consider the uniquely impressionable and vulnerable child audience. Know about COPPA. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act protects the personal information of children under 13 on websites and online services – including apps. COPPA requires those sites and services to notify parents and get their approval before they collect, use or disclose a child’s personal information. However, if your nine-year-old tells Instagram they are 13 (the age requirement to use the app), this law won’t protect them. Know about FOSI. The Family Online Safety Institute brings an international perspective to our online lives’ potential risks, harms and rewards. The Good Digital Parenting web portal is an excellent resource for families looking to educate online safety measures in the Internet age. Read privacy policies togethTIP | SEE PAGE 16 City of Everett Offering Art Classes at the Connolly Center Classes are set to begin in september for the fall semester E VERETT, MA – Mayor Carlo DeMaria is pleased to announce the City of Everett has partnered with the Everett Arts Association to begin offering art classes for a second semester this year in the fall. The classes will begin Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. MERCURY RECOVERY PROGRAM Mercury is an element that can be harmful to human health and the environment if not disposed of properly. Mercury is found in products such as: the Connolly Center (90 Chelsea Street). The 12-week semester will be guided by an instructor and culminate with an art show in the late fall. Individuals of all skill levels are welcome to participate. 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