The Internet can be wonderful for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games.
But online access also comes with risks, like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. Using apps and websites where kids interact, predators may pose as a child or teen looking to make a new friend. They might prod the child to exchange personal information, such as address and phone number, or encourage kids to call them, seeing their phone number via caller ID.
Parents should be aware of what their kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves. Talk with your kids, use tools to protect them, and keep an eye on their activities.
So until what age should we decide what is safe for our children?
And the logical answer is: until they are adults or can make adult decisions. Some of the websites have child protection policies in place, that help to protect kids under 13 years old against aggressive and inappropriate content, as well as for personal information protection. These are possible only if the age confirmation step is not missed or misused.
Nobody likes to be monitored or told what they can’t do. But what if you make some rules with your children? Here are some examples of the basic guidelines to share with your kids for safe online use:
- Follow the family rules, and those set by the Internet service provider.
- Never post or trade personal pictures.
- Never reveal personal information, such as an address, phone number, or school name or location.
- Use only a screen name and don’t share passwords (other than with parents).
- Never agree to get together in person with anyone met online without parent approval and/or supervision.
- Never respond to a threatening email, message, post, or text.
- Always tell a parent or other trusted adult about any communication or conversation that was scary or hurtful.
Some basic guidelines for parental supervision:
- Spend time online together to teach your kids online appropriate behavior.
- Keep the computer in a common area where you can watch and monitor its use, not in individual bedrooms. Monitor any time spent on smartphones or tablets. Use DigiFam Home to monitor any device connected to your home WiFi.
- Bookmark kids’ favorite sites for easy access.
- Check your credit card and phone bills for unfamiliar account charges.
- Find out what, if any, online protection is offered by your child’s school, after-school center, friends’ homes, or any place where kids could use a computer without your supervision. Use DigiFam Mobile to track and control usage from your child’s mobile anywhere outside your vision.
- Take your child seriously if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.
Taking an active role in your kids’ Internet activities helps ensure that they benefit from them without being exposed to the potential dangers.