Parenting in the tech world is not that easy. Today’s kids are digital natives. They have never experienced life without the internet.
Post-COVID it is almost impossible to keep kids off the internet. During the lockdown, schools conducted classes online, so kids are more comfortable using the internet. They want to connect with their friends through the internet.
But sadly… there is a dark side to the internet. The internet can be dangerous, especially for kids. Digital technology is an inevitable part of our life as well as our kids, we cannot completely restrict its use. It is our responsibility as parents, caregivers, and educators to help our kids prepare and create awareness about the dangers hidden online.
As a parent, it can be a challenge to give our children trust and space while still being able to make sure they are safe online. We worry that our children could be bullied or share information with someone who has the intention of harming them.
Why it is important to keep kids safe online?
The dangers kids face online :
- CYBERBULLYING: It’s like bullying, which happens on the internet or a device like your phone. Anywhere or at any time, it can occur. Cyberbullies can more easily mask their identities. It’s a hostile or threatening activity conducted via emails, social media posts, text messages, etc.
- INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT: It includes information, images, or materials that can upset kids or content which can mislead them. E.g.: Violent or sexually explicit content.
- ONLINE PREDATORS: Internet users or adults coax children into sexual or other abusive exploitation.
- ONLINE SCAMMERS: Internet users try to get personal information from children by tricking them.
Rules to keep kids safe online:
- Install parental control applications like xnspy, spyzie, etc. to block the websites you don’t want the kids to access and contain built-in privacy settings. To get a sense of the websites your children are viewing, it also helps to keep a close eye on them while they are online or look at their recent search history.
- Placing your desktop in a common room that the whole family uses regularly is also a good idea to monitor our kids activities.
- Have an open discussion with children about the risk and dangers hidden in the digital world. Educate them how to avoid clickbait, scams and reviling personal information.
- Set ground rules. Before giving kids the devices have an age-appropriate discussion about what they should and should not do when online.
- Download educational and age-appropriate sites for kids to use like YouTube kids, National Geographic kids etc.
- Setting up a weekly review of online activities of your kid’s device like phone, laptop. Track their online web history to the sites they visit. Go through all the message applications or social media platforms.
- Teach the younger children to ask permission before using internet and visiting new sites.
- Set time limits for internet usage. More time online, more is the tendency for the kids to wonder off to unnecessary sites.
Conclusion:
The world is cybercentric and ever-changing. It is impossible to keep kids away from the internet and digital things.
We as parents have a very important role in teaching our wards about healthy digital skills. So, what can we do?
- We must educate ourselves and our children. Always have open communication with kids. Work together and fight back when necessary.
- Create awareness about proper online etiquette, how to identify safe websites, and encourage them to ask an adult for help.
