Gone are the days when kids were considered safe on the internet. Just like the real world, the online world is also plagued with many dangers and threats. However, a few important tips for internet safety for kids must be considered to keep children safe online.
You cannot keep your children away from technology and the use of the internet and digital devices. In fact, children are using their internet-connected devices more than adults. Both children and teens alike are obsessed with technology and digital devices.
Since children are spending way too much time on the internet, it has become compulsory for parents to monitor their online activity to ensure they stay away from online threats. Online dangers such as pedophilia, cyberbullying, pornography, and violence lurk around the internet. Children get exposed to these threats either by accident or by choice.
To protect your children from succumbing to these threats, you need to follow some internet safety tips for them. Online safety should be a top priority for parents and teachers who want to provide internet access to children and teens alike. Safe search resources for the internet should be encouraged but parental and teacher supervision should not be replaced or neglected.
Important Tips for Internet Safety for Kids
As we said, online safety should be a top priority for parents and teachers and they must do everything in their capacity to provide a safe internet experience to the kids.
We are going to discuss a few important tips to encourage internet safety for kids when they are surfing the internet whether at home or in school. Let’s discuss them one by one.
- It is important to have an open and honest conversation with your children about computer use and safe browsing on the internet. You need to make them understand that responsibility also comes with freedom.
- Do not think that by adopting safe search resources for the internet and using parental control software you can overlook parental or teacher supervision of computer use at home or in school. As much as using safe search engine tools and deploying parental control tools on your children’s devices, parental and teacher supervision is also very important.
- Parents should never allow children to use the internet especially when they are alone at home without any supervision. Even if a parental control program is deployed on their devices or safe search is enabled on the web browser, you should not allow them to use the internet under any circumstances.
- It is crucial that parents educate themselves on the use of social media sites and their safety. Parents must have open discussions with their children about current social media dangers and long-term effects of inappropriate behavior and conduct on social media sites such as posting inappropriate pictures online and talking to strangers.
- It is recommended to keep the computer or laptop in an open area so you can see what your children are doing on the internet. If your child is using their laptop or computer in their room, make sure the door of their room is always left open.
- Usually, kids feel more comfortable while using the internet in their rooms. This practice should not be encouraged as computers should be kept in an open area where parents can watch their screens. This way even kids stay alert and refrain from opening inappropriate sites in the presence of parents.
- Never allow your children to use the internet after you have gone to bed at night. It is advised to turn off the WIFI when you are going to sleep. This will not allow your children to use the internet late at night.
- Another best tip for internet safety for kids is to deploy parental control software on their devices to control and manage what they see on the internet.
- Apart from installing parental control software on your children’s devices, you can also set up privacy on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
- Last but not least, you should never allow file sharing programs to be installed on your children’s computer. Instead, use only safe and secure music download programs from reliable and trusted sources available on the internet.
How Can Kids Keep Themselves Safe on the Internet
Here is how kids can keep themselves safe while using the internet:
- They should never give out their personal information on the internet without their parent’s consent. Personal information includes their name, home address, and telephone number.
- Children should never agree to meet someone that they have talked to on the internet. If they do not know the person in real life then they should tell their parents immediately about anyone who is asking to meet them outside.
- Children should always discuss with their parents about the pictures and videos they are thinking to post online (on your social media accounts). They should never post inappropriate pictures because they might get leaked and someone might use the content against them.
- Kids should avoid responding to messages they receive that are mean or harassing in nature. As soon as they feel someone is trying to cyberbully them, they should immediately inform their parents about such incidents.
- Kids should never give out passwords of any of their accounts to their friends or anyone they meet online. This will help your accounts stay safe and chances of them getting hacked by someone will be reduced.
- They should also ask their parents before downloading or installing any unknown software on their computer.
- They need to make sure privacy settings have been applied to all of their email and social media accounts.
- Children should never discuss their personal problems in detail with their friends on the internet. Instead, they should choose to speak to them in person. Online conversations should never be trusted.
Kids should try and understand why parents have deployed parental control software on their devices and why it is important for parents to monitor their digital devices. They should also know about the good and the bad side of the internet. They should also know about online conduct.