How to Talk to Your Child About the BrightCanary Keyboard

As you start using the BrightCanary Keyboard to monitor your child’s safety online, some questions might arise: the insights are great, but what about my child’s privacy? How should I talk to my child about it? We hear you, and we have answers. 

This guide will go over how the BrightCanary Keyboard can actually give your child more privacy, what to do if they don’t like the idea, and tips for talking to your child about it. 

Why is it important to monitor my child’s online activity? 

Experts advise that parents take a multi-pronged approach to keeping their child safe online, including monitoring and having ongoing discussions. 

There are billions of strangers on the other side of your child’s device. Even the most mature and level-headed child is vulnerable to risks like cyberbullying, online scams, grooming, and access to inappropriate content that can easily cross their social feeds. 

Monitoring is an extension of the supervision you already have in your child’s life. You wouldn’t let them wander a crowded city on their own or give them the keys to a car without any training. Similarly, kids shouldn’t go online without any restrictions — they need guardrails to help them learn how to use the internet and connected devices safely and responsibly. 

Is the BrightCanary Keyboard an invasion of my child’s privacy? 

The BrightCanary Keyboard provides more powerful protection online compared to other monitoring apps. Along with increased safety, it also supports your child’s privacy. Here’s how: 

• AI monitoring. The BrightCanary Keyboard uses AI technology to scan what your child types, so you don’t have to read everything yourself. That way, you can stay out of most of what they do and say online — only stepping in if there’s cause for concern. 
• Robust summaries. The app’s robust summaries give you a high-level overview of your child’s activity on their device, without many of the details they’d prefer to keep private. If you’re concerned, you can tap to view the full transcript, but the choice of when to step in and when to give them space is entirely in your hands — without compromising on safety. 
• Designed for communication and collaboration. You trust your child, but not the risks they face on the internet. The BrightCanary Keyboard is designed to honor that trust. By breaking down information according to interests and topics and providing tailored conversation tips, we help make online safety a collaborative process between you and your child. 
• Privacy-centered. Sensitive information like passwords and private forms are never captured by the BrightCanary Keyboard. 

What if my child is upset about the BrightCanary Keyboard?

Adolescents are hardwired to seek independence, so it’s natural that they might have reservations about your monitoring efforts. At the same time (even though they’d never admit it) teens and tweens still need a lot of parental support. 

Here are some tips for honoring their feelings and need for independence while providing them the guidance and safeguards they need. 

Explain why it’s important

Educate your child about the risks they face online in an age-appropriate way. Explain that it’s your job to help them stay safe and to teach them how to be responsible. 

Be transparent 

Installing a monitoring app without telling your child is spying, and your child would have every right to be upset. That’s why it’s important to sit down with your child before you start using the BrightCanary Keyboard. 

Explain how you plan to use it, what you’ll be looking for, and what steps you’ll take if there’s a concern. 

Collaboration is key

Ask your child about their online experience so far and what problems they’ve faced. Seek their input as you devise a plan for using the keyboard, and regularly check in to discuss how it’s going for them. 

Tailor the experience to your child 

Some kids need more support and monitoring than others. In addition, tweens getting their first device or young teens starting out on social media need more parental involvement than older, more mature teens. 

You know your child best; the BrightCanary Keyboard gives you the freedom to tailor the experience to fit your family. 

Prepare to adjust 

Over time, it’s reasonable to make changes to your approach. As your child proves trustworthy, you might rely more on summaries and less on transcripts. If your child requests more space, try staying out of the smaller matters (such as foul language or your child’s latest crush). 

Save your involvement for the things that really matter, like safety issues. Just as you adjusted their training wheels to provide less support as they became more competent bike riders, your involvement online should lessen as they mature, so they may eventually learn to ride on their own two wheels. 

How can I talk to my child about the BrightCanary Keyboard?

Finding the right words can be tricky. Here are some conversation starters: 

Conversation starters for tweens: 

• "You're getting ready to do more things online. Just like when you learned to cross the street by yourself, it’s my job to keep you safe as you learn to use the internet.”
• "Have you ever seen something online that made you feel uncomfortable or confused?"
• “If BrightCanary notices something weird, we'll figure it out together.”

Conversation starters for teens: 

• “I trust you, but I don't trust the risks you face online. For example, there are people who specifically target teens. This will help us catch those red flags so I can support you.” 
• “As you show you can handle yourself maturely online, we can adjust how much monitoring you need."
• “I want to work together to find an approach that works for both of us. What would make you feel more comfortable about this process?"

The bottom line

The BrightCanary Keyboard provides more robust protection online compared to other monitoring apps. Along with increased safety, it also supports your child’s privacy with AI monitoring, robust summaries, and a design built for collaboration. Download today and start your free trial.