How to Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet
The internet has become a huge part of kids’ daily life. It’s where they get much of their information, entertainment and social interaction. In spite of the benefits, the internet can unfortunately also expose kids to risks such as explicit or violent content, online predators, identity theft, privacy breaches, and cyberbullying/harassment. How do we, as parents, strike a balance between allowing our kids to benefit from being online while protecting them from potential dangers?
Fostering open communication with our kids about what they’re doing on the internet is a good first step. (Are they researching octopods, or chatting with strangers?) Help them understand the potential dangers of the internet, how to stay safe, and how to keep their personal information private. Encourage your kids to talk to you about what’s happening online, and make sure they feel comfortable telling you about any concerns or feelings of fear/anxiety about something they have experienced (even if YOU are uncomfortable or scared).
Negotiate with your kids to create guidelines about how much time they can spend online and which websites or apps they are allowed to use, with consequences if they disregard those guidelines. You may also have to negotiate checking their online activity or using monitoring tools, and explain your reasons for doing so. Encourage your kids to engage in offline activities. You can also set boundaries by establishing specific areas where internet use is allowed, such as the living room or kitchen. This would allow you to monitor activities on the internet more easily.
Many devices, apps, and websites offer parental control features. Set up these controls to restrict your kids’ access to age-inappropriate websites, games, and videos. Teach your kids about privacy settings on social media platforms and make sure their accounts are set to ‘private’. This way, only their friends and family members can view their content and interact with them online. Don’t hesitate to report to the appropriate authorities any suspicious or concerning activity or behavior online.
Protecting your kids from potential internet dangers is an ongoing task that seems to begin earlier and earlier, and requires education, communication, and vigilance. You can help your kids navigate an often overwhelming digital world safely by setting limits, encouraging open communication, using parental controls and teaching kids about safe internet use.