Keeping kids safe online: Knox County mom taking no chances

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — Parents are taking measures to protect their children from internet users with bad intentions, and one Knox County mom isn’t taking any chances.

Mikaela Bizer wants to make sure her children aren’t accessing the internet at a young age.

“They don’t know what’s out there. Something as simple as being on YouTube, looking at music, or we’re watching Veggie Tales, or watching a Katy Perry music video, and all of a sudden they’re in a really scary space,” she said.

She’s gone as far as placing them in a homeschooling co-op, where no phones are allowed.

“I do think technology is important for kids. I do think they need to be tech-literate. And they need to be able to keep up with all the new things that are coming, but right now in elementary school, I don’t think that is as of an important thing as learning through play and learning how to be a good friend, a good classmate,” she said.

Lindsay Stone, Senior Director of Children and Youth Mental Health Programming at the McNabb Center, said preparing your child to access the internet starts with open communication.

“What we encourage is, is to figure out what those restrictions and limits look like within your family, but to engage a conversation with children around the why we put parameters around social media, why there are certain risks associated with sharing information online,” she said.

Bizer also covers her children’s faces when posting photos of them on social media, which is an increasing trend among moms. Stone said there are things you should consider when sharing photos online.

“I think where the risk comes from in posting too many details about your child, whether it’s the back-to-school photo or any other type of photo of your child, is maybe not revealing too many details about that child’s likes, interests, personal network, that can be used in other platforms,” she said. “For instance, somebody that may be going after a child to groom or to gather more information from them.”

Bizer is also a part of an initiative called ‘ Wait Until 8th ‘ which encourages parents to not give their child a smartphone until eighth grade.

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