Profeco promotes parental controls for safe digital consumption

The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco), through the Revista del Consumidor, is promoting responsible digital content consumption, specifically focusing on children and adolescents. The agency emphasizes the importance of parental controls to manage mobile devices and applications through filters, privacy locks, security settings, and unauthorized purchase blocks.

Implementing these controls can mitigate various risks depending on the child's developmental stage. For preschoolers, it helps prevent exposure to inappropriate content and language issues. For primary school students, it reduces the likelihood of cyberbullying, grooming, and unauthorized purchases. For preadolescents, navigation limits can prevent risks associated with viral challenges, sexual extortion, social pressure, and loss of privacy. For adolescents, controls can help reduce video game addiction and digital scams.

Furthermore, supervised use of digital tools helps prevent sedentary lifestyles, sleep disorders, and social isolation across all age groups.