Your First Device: The Basics of Staying Safe

This lesson has six teaching parts, one guided activity, decision practice, and a short skill check. You do not need to rush. Read, think, and move through each part in order.

When people think about a phone or tablet, they often think about games, videos, messages, or schoolwork. But a device can also hold information that belongs to you.

It may remember your accounts. It may contain pictures. It may have messages from friends or family. It may know which apps you use. It may even know where the device is.

A device lock is one of the simplest safety tools. Depending on the device and your family's rules, that may be a passcode, password, fingerprint, face unlock, or another approved method.

The goal is simple: when you are not using the device, another person should not be able to open it easily and look through your information.

A device passcode helps protect the device itself. An account password helps protect an account, such as a game account, email account, school account, or another online service.

One of the most important things to remember is that a password is not something you give away just because someone asks.

Read each situation. Decide what you would do before opening the answer.

Apps and devices are created by people, and sometimes problems are found after the device or app is released. Updates can fix those problems, improve safety, improve how something works, or add new features.

You do not need to understand every technical detail in an update. What matters is following your family's rules for approved updates and not ignoring them forever.

Apps can be useful, fun, creative, and educational. But installing an app can also give that app access to parts of a device. That is why downloading and permissions deserve thought.

Ask before downloading unfamiliar apps

Families have different rules. Some children can install approved apps themselves. Others need a parent or guardian to approve each download. Follow the rules for your device.

If you do not recognize an app, do not understand why you need it, or found it through a strange message, ask first.

What is a permission?

A permission is a request from an app to use part of the device. For example, an app may ask to use the camera, microphone, photos, contacts, or location.

A good first question is:

Sometimes there can be a good reason for a permission that is not obvious. You do not have to figure everything out alone. When you are unsure, ask a trusted adult.

Pretend you are checking a new app before using it. For each permission below, ask whether it matches what the app actually needs.

Sometimes a device may show a strange pop-up, freeze, open a screen you do not understand, or behave differently than you expected. You might also see a message that tries to make you click quickly.

You do not need to solve every device problem by yourself.

Telling a trusted adult is not "getting in trouble." It is a good safety decision. Adults can help figure out whether the problem is small, important, or something that needs more help.

Decide what you would do before opening each answer.

You can complete this activity with your own device, a family device, or by imagining the device you may use in the future. You do not need to reveal any password or private information.

You do not need to write these answers online. Think about them or discuss them with a trusted adult.

Try each question before opening the answer. This is a learning check, not a grade.

You now have the basic habits for protecting a first device. You know why the device should be locked, why passwords matter, why updates are useful, why permissions deserve thought, and what to do when something unexpected happens.