The internet is such an integral part of today’s society, it’s hard to remember what the world was like without it. For many adults, life changed for the better with the advent of the internet.
But kids have little or no memories of the world without the internet—they are keen on exploring the virtual world to the max. As a parent, it's your responsibility to keep an eye on your kid's activities online, considering the dangers that exist.
So why do you need to keep an eye on your kids while they're online? Should you really be that worried? And what should parents bear in mind when their children are browsing online?
Why You Need to Protect Your Child Online
The formative years of kids require the guidance of their parents or guardians. Not allowing them to be online is like isolating them from the world.
The adaptation of the internet to the lives of children has become a necessity. Key institutions in society such as schools, and religious and recreational centers are adopting remote engagements more and more. Nonetheless, kids going online demands utmost care to shield them from various potential troubles.
1. Negative Influence
Do you worry that your kids could get in the wrong crowd when they're out and about?
Social media is an exciting element of the online space. Kids have the opportunity to build relationships with people across geographical borders.
Kids are impressionable and can easily pick up bad habits. You should also be worried about your kids getting in the wrong crowd online. It’s even more troubling as you may not be aware of the kinds of people that they are interacting with.
2. Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks have become so rampant, you have to be abreast with online security tips to stay safe online. If adults aren’t completely secured from cyberattacks, children are, obviously, at greater risk. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to facilitate a healthy cybersecurity environment.
3. Inappropriate Content
While there are tons of useful websites for kids, there is a variety of content that isn't child-friendly.
Kids are often eager to consume inappropriate content to satisfy their curiosity. If you don’t keep a close eye on their online activities, they could consume harmful content.
Tech-Savvy Children? Here's What Every Parent Needs to Remember
Kids may think that they can take care of their activities online, but there is so much that they don’t know yet. As a parent, it's your responsibility to educate them properly. But you can only do that effectively when you are well-informed. The following tips will help you guide your kids on how to use the internet safely.
1. The Internet Never Forgets
Baring it all is the new cool on social media. Privacy has lost its meaning as people are freer than ever to let others know about the events in their personal lives. Kids see this pattern every day and may pick it as the norm.
While you should encourage your kids to express themselves online, you should also let them know that the internet never forgets. A post that they made today could haunt them in the future especially if it’s inappropriate.
Make them understand that some things are meant to remain private.
2. Update Your Devices
Cyberattackers are looking for any opportunities to infiltrates systems, and unpatched devices are a good window to break in. Pay attention to available updates on your and your kids' devices.
Running updates may be time-consuming but it makes your devices more secure.
3. Be Sure of What You Click or Open
Phishing is a common strategy among cybercriminals. They send you malicious messages and email attachments, requesting your personal information.
These criminals are good at what they do. They make the content look so legitimate, if you aren’t careful, you may fall for it.
The rule of thumb is, don’t open a message or click on any links if you aren’t sure of what they are. Kids may be too young to discern what malicious content looks like. It’s safer to advise them to not open any random content they come across online.
4. Don’t Be Too Hard With Screen-Time Limits
Having your child spend all day online isn’t what you want so you might go hard on them, imposing screen-time limits. Being forceful isn’t going to yield any positive results. Your kid might become rebellious and find other ways to go online without your knowledge.
Instead of forcefully imposing limited screen-time on them, explain to your child why they shouldn’t spend all day on their devices.
The likes of Google, Apple, and Microsoft offer tools that you can use to track how your child surfs the internet. One of such tools is GoogleSafe Search that blocks explicit content when kids are surfing the internet.
5. Be Wary of Freebies Online
Several companies offer free apps and services online. But in the real sense, nothing is actually free. There is always a catch.
In most cases, your personal data is the exchange commodity. Some of the biggest social networks including Facebook and Instagram have been found wanting in collecting the personal information of users for their own benefit.
6. Verify Information Sources
One of the biggest strengths of the internet is the decentralization of information. Any information you need is just a click away. Encourage your child to engage in online learning but you need to verify the credibility of the information source.
Misinformation and disinformation are causing chaos in society. And unfortunately, the internet fuels them. Instil the importance of always double-checking a source before running with the information.
7. Give Your Tech-Savvy Child Some Credit
You may have good intentions to protect your kid online but going overboard with it could be counterproductive. It’s okay to keep an eye on their activities but don’t be invasive about it.
Be mindful of the spying software you install on their devices. Tech savviness comes naturally to kids. They could find ways to bypass the measures you have put in place to spy on them if they feel you don't trust them. It’s better to have honest conversations about their online activities with them.
8. Change Is Constant
Change is constant in all areas of life but it’s even more constant online. Trends come and go in a flash. The hottest app today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Encourage your kid to not get overly invested in the trends they come across online.
The likes of MySpace and Hi5 were the "in" thing long before Facebook came along. But today, people hardly remember them. If your child is obsessed with growing their Instagram following, and the app goes into oblivion, it could affect their mental health.
Prioritizing Positivity Over Negativity
The fact that the internet can be a bad influence on kids isn’t up for debate. But that’s not the entire truth. There is also a side to it that improves the lives of kids for the better.
Besides academic learning, children can also acquire creative skills and learn about new cultures. They can travel the world without leaving their houses—thanks to the people and unlimited resources they can access online.
0 Comments