If you grew up in the digital age, you may have been one of the kids who played games online, chatted with friends on child-appropriate social networks, and posted embarrassing things online for laughs and reactions.

Nowadays, the internet is becoming increasingly more volatile, especially when kids are exposed to a variety of content and influences on social media or through other websites. Thankfully, there are ways you can utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in ways that not only allow you to keep your kids safe online but prevent malicious activity from occurring as well.

The Basics of VPNs

A VPN is a type of online service that allows you to hide your browsing activity. Though an article from Microsoft Azure outlines the ins and outs of how they operate, the short version is that a VPN creates a private connection between your computer and a remote server, owned by the VPN provider. This connection, or "tunnel," encrypts your data so that no one else has access to it. It also masks your IP address so that no one else can trace you. This makes your online experience safer, more secure, and more anonymous.

Why Would You Use a VPN

A VPN is often appropriate to use if you are concerned about the way your browsing activity might be tracked online. Through the use of state-of-the-art encryptions and IP masking, you can effectively maneuver through the internet in a safer, more secure, and more private manner.

Why Would My Kids Use a VPN

Studies indicate that kids and teenagers might utilize VPNs to hide what they are looking at online. By using a VPN, a child might be able to bypass any parental controls you have implemented on your account. 

Typically, parental controls on devices are implemented by blocking certain IP addresses, which prevents your child from accessing blocked websites. VPNs, however, can scramble the home IP address, which means that your child may then be capable of bypassing parental controls and accessing blocked sites, such as social media or other websites. 

It is important to note that children might not possess the ability to distinguish truly safe VPNs from their free counterparts, which might not offer the best protection from malicious activity such as malware and hackers. As a result, it's important to consider how, and even why, your child might be utilizing a VPN.

How to Tell if Your Child Is Using a VPN

Gabb.com suggests that the easiest way to determine if your child is using a VPN is to use the search tool on their device and type "VPN" on the device operating system. You can also search the top VPN apps on a mobile device's app store to see which ones might be most accessible. 

Most VPNs require a credit card to utilize their systems. However, some allow you to try them for free or are always free. Searching for the VPN software on a computer or phone is the most direct way to tell if there is a VPN present on the device.

How to Talk to Your Kids About VPNs

If your child is utilizing a VPN, it is important to understand why they are using one in the first place. It could be that they're hiding their internet tracking from companies like many adults do. Alternatively, they could be trying to hide their activity from you or other caregivers.

If your child is trying to hide something from you, it is most likely time to talk about the importance of online safety. While these conversations can often be difficult and can come with potential arguments, it is important to keep an open mind and to be direct and firm. Gabb.com states that you should focus the conversation on helping your child remain safe, not on punishing them. 

One way to talk to your kids about online safety is to emphasize the importance of being wary about what websites they visit. Not all websites are built equally. In some cases, a website may not provide the security features that are necessary to keep your personal device safe. Malicious file types and viruses—including malware, spyware, Trojan horses, and others—can be injected into your device simply by clicking on a link or by downloading a file. In some cases, even just visiting a website can result in a script deploying, thereby exposing your device to a virus.

Another thing to discuss with your children is the importance of being mindful of what they view online. Even with a VPN deployed, your information may not be completely private, especially if the VPN service drops and your regular IP address is revealed. Remaining mindful of what you are viewing even as an adult is important and is a lesson that should be taught early on when a child is using the internet.

Finally, if you are concerned about your child's access to applications on their phone, you can implement an "allow list" through iOS's Screen time app or Android device's Family Link app to manage your child's access to applications on their phone. Through these family-managing applications, only you, as the guardian, have control of what your child can download onto their phone.

Are there Child-Safe VPNs?

Thankfully, modern VPN services are developing tools that allow parents to control what their child is viewing even while they are using a VPN. With these tools, you can determine what your child is viewing online, track what they are seeing, and prevent them from looking at websites or content that could endanger them or put their personal information at risk. 

VPNs are a great way to browse the web in a more private, safer manner. However, it is important for parents to note that not all VPNs are built equally, nor are all VPNs interested in keeping your child or their data safe. Always be cautious when utilizing a VPN application or website, especially if they claim to be free, and remain mindful of the terms the VPN offers if you or your child are using one. The most important thing when browsing the internet is to keep yourself and your information safe.