Teach Your Children About Internet Safety (February 9 - Safer Internet Day)

On the account of this 'Safer internet Day' observed on February 9th, let's teach our little ones about kids' internet safety! 

The internet is something that has become a part of everyone's daily life. Just like you can easily click here and purchase some amazing winter collections for your little ones, everything including work, studies, socializing, and entertainment has gone online now. In a world weaved together with this digital world wide web, it is important to maintain certain values and boundaries to keep this online world in check. Here are some important things to teach your children about child internet safety!

1. Educate them about internet risks

Talking to your children about the risks of the internet is extremely important. They need to know that the internet is a place that has equal vices and virtues. Educating them about these vices is important. Here are a few risks that you should educate your children about - 

A. Content-Specific Risks 

Even after putting up a kid safe internet filter on the internet browsers and applications, you might still find age-inappropriate content on the internet. Children might be exposed to some content that they might find unfamiliar, uncomfortable, offensive, cruel, and disturbing. 

B. Contact-Related Risks

Let children know that not everyone they meet online is genuine. If children are exposed to social media platforms at an early age, they might begin connecting and chatting with strangers online who may or may not be the same age/identity they claim to be. Educating children about fake accounts, hacked accounts, and identity fraud is also important. 

C. Contractual Risks

Children might end up signing contracts online which they are unaware of, giving out access to personal information or sensitive data. Sometimes browsing on unsafe sites and networks without a kid safe internet filter or downloading unsafe content might have a risk of data and privacy breaches too. 

2. Explain online purchases to them 

Online purchases are another risk for children. They might click on ads while searching for something else. They might also accidentally make in-app/in-game purchases without realizing it. One of the child internet safety tips To ensure that your child does not end up in such situations, disable one-tap purchases from all apps. 

3. Online behavior norms

We are aware that the online world is full of offending comments, trolling, bullying, and harassment. Children could be on the receiving or giving ends of such online behaviors. It's important to teach an online code of conduct to our young generation. 

The internet is a platform where people of different mindsets come together. At a platform like this, it is extremely important to not be rigid in your views, to expect to receive different perspectives, and to be willing to accept/view them with an open mind.

4. Establish clear Do's and Don'ts

While teaching children about kids internet safety, drawing out a clear boundary on what they can and cannot do online is a great exercise. For example, you can allow them to install games only from a trusted source and search only with child safe internet safe engines, browse some social media or entertainment channels like YouTube (remember to set a safe age barrier), etc. 

For “Don’ts” you can mention online purchases, connecting with strangers online, meeting someone you've met online, etc. Discuss all the points in your Do's and Don't list and ensure that they understand the logic behind things you are prohibiting. 

5. Scam & Fraud Safety

Emails and WhatsApp are some things widely used for even academic purposes nowadays which is why the risks for scams and frauds have increased on these platforms. Scams and frauds targeting younger children have increased a lot, especially post the pandemic. Ensure that you teach your children not to give out information such as contact details, residential address, important OTPs, bank credentials, or other sensitive details to anybody online, whether they know the person or not.

6. Limit screen times

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to limit the screen time of younger children. A Mental Behavioural Health study of 2020 suggests that longer screen times in children can result in many problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 

Moreover, case studies suggest that we can also observe anger issues and misconduct among children who are exposed to violent games or games that put children under pressure while playing. However, they can be a mode of recreation for some children so limiting the time for these games shall help curb the negative effects they have and ensure that it doesn't do more harm than good. 

Child Internet Safety Tips For Parents 

While teaching all of the above things to children can certainly help keep internet risks at bay, it is also important for parents to take care of a few things to ensure that the internet becomes a safer environment for their children. 

1. Safe Browsers 

Did you know that there are special children-safe and children-appropriate browsers? Just like Google Chrome, child safe internet search engines like kiddle and kidtopia can be set as the default setting for your little ones. You can also use safe media streaming sites such as YouTube Kids and CBeebies to ensure there is no age-inappropriate content on your Children's devices. 

2. Take Charge 

While you make them feel like they have their freedom, don't completely lose control over it! Enable parental controls and keep monitoring your Children's activities. You can also set usage times and manage age limits on browsers and different apps. 

Final Words 

So these were a few things to teach your children about kid internet safety. Ensure to have a healthy conversation and be a good role model for your children by following what you tell them. Child internet Safety is a major concern these days. However, with these little tips for parents, you can easily protect your children from online risks. Say hello to safe surfing!