LAMP
RGB
Guide To Review
New Kid’s Tech Quickly
No one should be in the dark about basic digital literacy
Generational differences, access to education and connectivity impact access to digital literacy across all ages and the world. No one, but especially anyone caring for a child, should feel so overwhelmed trying to stay safe, that they give up trying.
This simple acronym is an easy way to remember what to look for as you encounter new technology.
LAMP is by no means exhaustive but any piece of tech (read: app, device, social media, game etc) that allows you a way to adjust these settings is minimally safer than ones that do not.
Next time you encounter new tech, you’ll know what to look for and where to start evaluating.
RGB as a foundation of digital safety
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Relationships
Building a healthy report and caring about children’s interests sets a foundation that makes it easier for children to approach us when they are in trouble.
Curiosity about a child's interests helps you find more things you have in common AND helps you think of alternatives if you feel you need them.
For example, if a child is spending more time than you would like on social media, you may want to find a way to help them socialize more in person. If they enjoy a video game, ask to join them as they play! Ask and stay curious.
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Guidelines
Establish clear criteria to be used to evaluate the safety of any given piece of technology based on your family’s values. The acronym LAMP is a simple, quick place to start your review of new tech as it comes along.
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Biases and Beliefs
Knowing what a child (and your family in general) is drawn to is being ahead of manipulations and vulnerabilities.
For example, knowing your child’s favorite sports team or show, can help you know what to do when a platform is using that information to bait them to watch something unsafe.
RGB - red, green and blue make up light
For years we were taught that tech is a specialized field, like medicine or law enforcement. As though, you didn’t need to know about it unless your work bring it to you. Between that and the speed of advances, parents may give up trying to keep pace, which makes digital literacy a non-priority or source of friction.
Meanwhile bad actors have no problem keeping pace.
It doesn’t have to be overwhelming and scary. You can feel safer and empowered to make choices for your family that align with your values.
RGB stands for foundational pieces (Relationships, Guidelines to follow, Biases to be aware of) that help us establish minimal digital awareness within our families, which informs our choices so that we can keep safe as much possible.
Relationships
Safety starts with rapport, especially around the interests where you have the least expertise. Stay curious. Ask about the shows, games, and creators your kid loves, even if you don't fully understand them yet. When a child feels safe telling you about the easy, fun stuff, they're far more likely to come to you when something makes them uncomfortable. As their interests grow more complex and their access becomes less supervised, that trusting relationship becomes the foundation guiding their choices when you're not in the room.
Guidelines
This is where LAMP comes in, a checklist for evaluating any app, game, or connected toy before it enters your child's life:
Location — Does the app need location services? Who else can see where your kid is?
Access — Who can get information about your child through this technology? Will your account link to theirs, or will they share a password or email with you?
Messaging — Who can message or interact with your child through this service?
Parental controls — Safe apps always let a parent adjust settings for a child's safety.
A simple rule of thumb: if you wouldn't let your child take the equivalent action unsupervised in a physical space, they need guidance to take it online.
B — Biases
Knowing what your child is drawn to also means knowing where they're vulnerable. The same curiosity that builds trust in your relationship can prepare you to prepare them for the manipulation tactics they'll encounter from people and algorithms alike.
Even something as ordinary as searching "Bluey videos" on some video-serving websites in incognito mode can surface unreviewed, algorithmically-recommended content within the first handful of results. Knowing that bad actors create content that gets clicks around popular things you and your child likes, can you help you get ahead of things: “Hey, if you see Bluey doing something that seems odd, let me know ok. That’s probably not the real Bluey and I can help you get back to watching the good stuff.”
References:
*Katz, V. S., Gonzalez, C., & Clark, K. (2017). Digital inequality and developmental trajectories of low-income, immigrant, and minority children. Pediatrics, 140(Suppl. 2), S132–S136. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1758R
Kowert, R. (2026). Raising good gamers: What families need to know about video games and well-being. Games for Change. https://www.raisinggoodgamers.com/white-paper
New Jersey Children's Alliance. (n.d.). Know & Tell [Training program]. Retrieved June 2026 from https://njcainc.org/know-and-tell/
Sesame Workshop. (2025). Habits for family well-being in a digital age [Online course]. https://sesameworkshop.org/resources/habits-for-family-well-being-in-a-digital-age/