Protecting our children from the dangers of the internet
In today's world, if you have children, chances are they've been on the Internet. Have you had "the talk" with your kids? No, not that one, the one about being safe online. Does your child have any social media friends on their list they don't even know? If so, they've got to go.
Privacy settings
Does your child post things they shouldn't? Do they know those things can last forever, even if they delete them? Encourage your kids to use privacy settings and to think twice before they share anything because they never know who will see it.
Do they share too much information about their name, age, or location? Some things should stay in the family. Online gaming can be one way that sketchy folks try to get private information from your kids. So, be on guard.
Use of strong passwords
Teach your kids about using strong passwords. They need a different one for every site, email address, and app they use. Use upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols with at least 10 to 12 characters.
A great way to create a strong but memorable password is to use a pass phrase. Just make sure not to use famous quotes, music lyrics, or certain personal information like birthdays or addresses because those will be easy to guess. And remind your children never to share their passwords with anyone, not even their best friend.
Cyberbullying
Are your kids participating in it? Are they victims of it? Help them recognize the signs and know they can report anything to you or another trusted adult.
Get smart about smartphones
In addition to being able to access the Internet, some apps can do more than they probably should. GPS can be very helpful for finding your way around or finding your friends, but it can also allow others to find you. Tell your kids to limit these features to avoid broadcasting their location to the world. Also check out apps before you download them to make sure they won't collect and share personal information, let your kids spend real money, or do other things you wouldn't want them to.
Eliminate all sexting
That is sending, forwarding, or even saving sexually explicit photos, videos, or messages from a mobile device. Sexting can do more than risk your child's reputation and friendships; it can even be illegal.
Always make Internet security a habit
Always use security software and firewalls, even on mobile devices and keep your operating systems and apps up to date. Teach your kids about phishing, malware, insecure Wi-Fi, and how to recognize secure websites. And remember, have the Internet safety talk with your child early and often.
Conclusion
The internet is a wonderful place to explore and at the same time can be dangerous for our children. Hence it is the duty of parent to monitor their children’s online activity and educate them where necessary so they wouldn’t expose themselves to risk of sharing personal information to strangers on the internet, cyberbullying, over-dependence on the internet for validation, sharing sexual contents and lots more.
The internet is not really safe for children, I do advice they access it under the watch of their parents.