Children today have access to the internet on their computers and smartphones, making it incredibly easy for them to research information for school projects, learn, and connect with peers. However, internet access also has downsides. For instance, many children these days are exposed to inappropriate content and cyberbullying. That’s why parents must do all they can to protect their kids online and ensure they use their devices correctly and safely.
Encourage respectful interaction online
Being anonymous online does not give anyone the power to be rude or disrespectful, and children need to know this. Parents must encourage their kids to treat others the way they would want to be treated in return when using the internet. The digital world is full of negativity, so it’s important to make children aware of it.
When angered on social media, it might be a natural instinct for a child to be unkind to the other person and, unknowingly, become a cloaked bully. Moreover, with their limited life experience, children might not be able to gauge how their actions could affect their peers. So, parents must speak to their kids and educate them to be polite online.
When teaching children about online safety, parents should also encourage them to speak up if they are being targeted by any stranger or someone they know. Cyberbullying is a punishable offense and an act no one should have to deal with. Instead of engaging such people, it is best to block or report them and carry on with one’s own life.
Restrict unwanted website access
Multimedia content like videos and images are easily accessible using the internet. But not all content is suitable for kids, so parents must establish rules and boundaries regarding what children can watch. One way to restrict access to inappropriate content is to lock unwanted websites with passwords. Parents can also turn on parental control for online safety when installing search engines. This feature automatically blocks age-inappropriate search results and provides child-centric results only.
Another pro tip to keep kids safe on the internet is to install apps that monitor a device’s usage. Some apps are designed to keep a close eye on what their children do online, such as the time spent on social media and the websites visited. These apps allow children to explore their passion and satiate their curiosity while keeping them from online dangers.
Make online friends wisely
The internet allows people to create their own online identities using pseudonyms and be anonymous. This protects people’s privacy and gives them a sense of security when sharing views and opinions online. However, some people misuse this feature by making fake social media accounts and using them to connect with others.
While websites have several policies to prevent this practice, they sometimes aren’t enough. So, parents should teach their kids to exercise caution when chatting or making friends online. Children, too, must be encouraged to be open about the people they interact with within the digital world and the nature of these interactions. A golden rule of thumb is to treat everyone online like a stranger and interact with caution.
Refrain from oversharing
Most kids love to click pictures about their day and post them online for others to see. While doing this is okay, children must be taught about the dangers of oversharing on the internet. The invasion of privacy is the most important concern to raise here. Kids must be explained that their online posts may sometimes be available for all to see, even strangers. So, they must be asked how comfortable they are with random people viewing their photos, videos, messages, or any other content they share.
Children should also know that simply deleting something or erasing the activity history does not necessarily mean their actions have been reversed. Whatever they do on the internet will forever be present online in one form or another. Both children and parents should be aware of the possible consequences of the steps or actions taken online and discuss it openly.
Safeguard sensitive information
Most websites, including kids’ learning platforms, ask users for details like their name and age before signing them up. Children must be told to be careful when providing such information online. These days, many fake websites persuade users to share sensitive information and then misuse it.
When a website asks for user names or other personal information, kids should consult their parents before proceeding. Parents must carefully gauge if the website is safe and check whether providing the requested data is necessary. Parents must also double-check the safety, terms and conditions, and privacy policies of any sites their kids use. Scamsters can use the smallest, inconsequential information to carry out their nefarious plans.
Set strong passwords
Parents should sit with their children and teach them how to create passwords. A strong password can be created by combining numbers and special characters. Adding uppercase and lowercase letters can further make it harder to guess. Additionally, children must be told not to write down the password anywhere. The desk drawer and the notes app are common places kids write passwords.