Holiday Online Safety Tips for Teens and Young Adults with Special Needs
The holiday season brings joy, excitement, and plenty of opportunities to shop for gifts, connect with others online, and celebrate with friends and family. But it’s also a prime time for online scams, which can be hard to spot, especially for teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental differences. This is where parents, teachers, and caregivers come in; they play an essential role in helping young people understand these risks and develop the skills they need to navigate the online world safely and confidently.
In this post, we’ll cover step-by-step online safety tips, including practical examples, to teach your child or student to avoid phishing scams, shop online safely, and protect their personal information. These skills aren’t just essential for the holiday season; they’re crucial for building independence and confidence in everyday online interactions. Let’s dive into these essential tips and strategies to make this holiday season both fun and secure!
Understanding Online Shopping Safety During the Holidays
Shopping online is an exciting part of the holiday season, especially with so many deals and products available. However, scammers know this too, and they often set traps to take advantage of eager holiday shoppers. Here are some ways to help your child or student recognize scams and stay safe while they shop online.
Avoiding Fake Websites and Scams
Scammers often create fake websites that look exactly like popular stores but are designed to steal information or money. These fake sites may even have the same logo and layout as real sites, making it hard to tell the difference. Teach your child or student to check if a website is real by looking for two important details: a padlock icon and “https” at the beginning of the website address.
Here’s a simple example to explain this concept: “Imagine walking up to a store with no sign or logo outside. You’d feel a little suspicious, right? Online, a padlock and ‘https’ are like a store’s sign, showing it’s secure.” To further reinforce this skill, you can use the story Alexa Learns How to Research Before Shopping Online to help your child or student understand how to verify websites and research products before purchasing. This story is a great tool for teaching the basics of online safety in a way that feels approachable and age-appropriate.
Recognizing “Too Good to Be True” Deals
Around the holidays, especially during sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, your child or student might see deals that seem too good to be true. Explain that if something looks unbelievably cheap, it’s probably a scam. For instance, if a website offers a new iPhone for $50, that’s a red flag.
You can make this relatable with an example: “Imagine someone offered you a brand-new video game for just $1 when it usually costs $50. Doesn’t that sound suspicious? Online, scammers use deals like this to trick people into sharing personal information or making unsafe purchases.” These examples can help your child or student understand that scammers often use tempting deals to lure people onto unsafe websites.
Checking Reviews and Ratings
Reading reviews and checking product ratings can provide valuable clues about whether a website or product is legitimate. Explain that reviews are like getting advice from people who’ve already bought the item. Show them how to look for detailed reviews that provide specific information about the product.
Here’s a relatable example: “Before you try a new game, you might ask friends if it’s fun or worth the money. Reviews are like advice from people who have already tried it.” This example helps them understand why it’s a good habit to check reviews before buying something online, as it can help them avoid poor-quality items or outright scams.
Knowing When to Ask for Help
If your son or daughter feels unsure about an online purchase, remind them that it’s okay to ask for help. Even adults ask for advice when they’re not sure about something online, so this is a smart step. This reassurance can build confidence, helping them understand that double-checking isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a way to stay safe.
Here’s an example to illustrate this point: “If you were in a store and didn’t know if something was safe to buy, you’d ask the salesperson or a friend, right? Online, you can ask someone you trust instead.” This reinforces the importance of asking questions and getting a second opinion when they’re uncertain.
Social Media Safety Tips for the Holidays
Social media is a wonderful way for teens and young adults to share holiday cheer, connect with friends, and explore holiday gift ideas. But it’s also a common avenue for scams, especially during the holiday season. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to help your child or student stay safe while enjoying social media.
Watching Out for Phishing Links
Phishing scams often appear as links in social media messages or posts. These links may offer special holiday deals, prizes, or other enticing offers. Teach your child or student not to click on links from people they don’t know, especially if the offer seems too good to be true.
Here’s a scenario to make this more relatable: “Imagine a stranger approached you with a free gift and asked you to follow them to get it. You’d feel a bit cautious, right? Online, clicking on a link from someone you don’t know is like following a stranger. It’s best to ignore it.” The life skill story Omar Protects His Financial Information can be a helpful tool for teaching young people about safeguarding their information on social media.
Avoiding Oversharing Personal Information
Social media can feel like a fun place to share what’s going on in your life, especially around the holidays. However, sharing too much information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, or travel plans, can lead to risks. Talk to your child or student about keeping certain details private, even if they’re excited to share holiday news.
You can explain it like this: “Imagine telling a lot of people where you live and when you’ll be away from home. That could be risky, right? Online, it’s important to keep some details to yourself.” This example helps make the concept of privacy easier to understand.
Handling Friend Requests from Strangers
During the holiday season, it’s common to receive more friend requests, but not all of them are genuine. Some friend requests could be from scammers looking to gather personal information. Teach your child or student to only accept friend requests from people they know in real life.
Use this example: “Think of social media like a private party, you wouldn’t invite just anyone into your home, so don’t invite strangers into your online friend list.” This example makes the idea of online friendships more concrete and manageable, helping your child or student understand why it’s safer to limit their connections to people they know.
Reporting Suspicious Accounts
Reporting suspicious accounts is a simple but effective way to help keep social media safe for everyone. Talk to your child or student about how to recognize a fake account. Signs might include unusual usernames, very few posts, or no profile picture. Many social media platforms offer easy ways to report these accounts.
You could explain it like this: “If someone at a party seemed suspicious, you’d tell someone you trust. Reporting online is similar; it’s about helping everyone stay safe by letting the platform know there’s a strange account.” Taking this proactive step can make your child or student feel more in control of their online safety.
Email Safety Tips to Avoid Holiday Phishing Scams
Email is another common way scammers try to reach people, especially during the holiday season. Many phishing scams arrive in inboxes disguised as special holiday deals, prize announcements, or important notifications. Here’s how to guide your child or student in recognizing phishing emails and protecting their inbox.
Identifying Phishing Emails
Phishing emails often try to trick people by looking like messages from real companies, but they usually have small errors, like spelling mistakes, strange email addresses, or an urgent tone. Teach your child or student to be cautious if they notice these signs and to avoid clicking on links in suspicious emails.
Here’s an example to help explain this concept: “Imagine getting a letter from someone who claims to be a friend but has a lot of spelling mistakes and strange handwriting. You’d probably feel something wasn’t right.” This example can help them understand why it’s important to be cautious with emails that look strange or have errors. For added practice, the story How to Create a Secure Password teaches important online safety skills, helping teens and young adults to secure their online accounts.
Ignoring Fake Promotions and Contests
During the holiday season, it’s common to see emails announcing surprise wins or exclusive holiday promotions. Explain that legitimate companies don’t send out unexpected prizes or ask for personal information out of the blue. Encourage your child or student to delete any email that feels “too good to be true” and avoid entering contests that seem suspicious.
Use this relatable example: “Imagine someone stopped you on the street, offering you a prize and asking for your address to deliver the prize. Wouldn’t that feel strange? Online, it’s best to ignore similar offers that arrive in your inbox unexpectedly.” This can help your child or student understand that legitimate companies don’t ask for sensitive information suddenly or without reason.
Knowing How to Check for “HTTPS” in Links
A quick way to check if an email link is secure is by hovering over it to see if it starts with “https.” Teach your child or student that if the link doesn’t start with “https,” the site may not be safe. If they’re unsure, they can visit the company’s website directly by typing the address themselves.
Use this example: “Think of ‘https’ as a locked door; it’s there to keep things safe. If a link doesn’t have it, it may not be secure.” This can serve as a helpful visual reminder, making it easier for them to remember to look for “https” in links.
Using Email Filters
Email filters can help block suspicious messages before they reach the main inbox. Many email providers allow users to filter messages based on specific keywords, sender addresses, or other characteristics. Show your child or student how to set up basic filters to prevent unwanted or suspicious emails from cluttering their inbox.
Use this scenario to make it more relatable: “Imagine sorting through a big stack of letters and setting aside the important ones, while the junk mail goes straight to the trash. Email filters do the same thing by helping keep only the useful messages in your inbox.” This example can make the concept of email filtering easier for them to understand and implement.
Protecting Financial Information Online
Shopping online is convenient, but protecting financial information is crucial. Here’s how to teach your child or student safe practices for handling their finances online, especially during the holiday season.
Using Secure Payment Methods
Secure payment methods, like credit or debit cards, offer better protection if there’s a problem with the transaction. Explain that other options, like money transfers, aren’t as safe. The worksheet Nelson Learns About Payment Methods can introduce different payment methods and help explain why secure options are best.
You could say: “Imagine using a prepaid card at a store; if something goes wrong, you can ask for a refund. Online, debit or credit cards are like a prepaid card that provides extra protection.”
Setting Up Account Alerts
Account alerts can notify users if there’s any unusual activity on their account, helping them spot unauthorized transactions quickly. Encourage your child or student to set up these alerts through their bank or payment app. The story Brian Learns the Benefits of Debit Card Alerts is a practical resource to explain how alerts work and why they’re helpful.
To explain it, try this example: “Imagine a friend telling you whenever there’s something unusual with your money. Alerts do the same thing, helping you keep track of spending.”
Keeping Financial Information Private
It’s important to remind your child or student not to share personal financial details like PINs, passwords, or account numbers with others. Use this example to make it relatable: “If someone asked for the keys to your home, you wouldn’t give them away, right? Financial information is like those keys; keep it safe and private.”
Understanding the Importance of Strong Passwords
A strong password is an important way to protect online accounts from hackers. Encourage your child or student to use unique, complex passwords for each account. Reviewing How to Create a Secure Password can give them tips on creating memorable yet secure passwords, reinforcing the concept of online safety.
You might say: “Imagine leaving your front door wide open for anyone to enter. A weak password is like that open door; make it strong to keep everything safe.”
The holidays should be a time of joy, peace, and excitement, not a time to worry about online scams. By teaching these functional life skills, parents and teachers can help teens and young adults with special needs confidently navigate the online world. Each tip, from spotting fake websites to understanding secure payment methods, builds independence and fosters safety.
Let’s equip our teens and young adults with the tools they need for a worry-free holiday season, paving the way for secure online interactions and greater independence in the future. With these skills, they’ll be able to enjoy the excitement of the season while staying safe and empowered online.
The Adulting on the Spectrum team is excited to hear from you. Please share your experiences and insights in the comments below!
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