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Children Online Safety

The web provides the opportunity to explore almost everything that is happening all over the globe without any restrictions. Web content isn’t categorized based on age or target group; anyone can access any information. Without safe surfing and supervision, a kid can either purposely or unintentionally access, inappropriate, explicit, or disturbing content like nudity and inappropriate language. Just as you make sure that stories you narrate to your kids are appropriate as per their ages and the television programs they follow are suitable. You should carefully check sites your children visit, and what they do online.

Any online user will, at some point, come across explicit information, and in most cases, this content won’t inflict long-term effects. Some particular examples of dangerous, damaging content for teenagers and children involve websites that encourage nudity and pornography. Most of these disturbing sites are easy to find, which only means that it is the responsibility of parents to manage and monitor their kids.

Online Prevention Tools

Online prevention tools enable parents to control their children from accessing inappropriate material and assist in protecting them from bullying and internet predators. Most internet providers offer parent-control options. Guardians and parents can also get programs, which limit access to inappropriate websites and prevents personal data from being shared on the internet. These are some of the precautions that can guarantee safe surfing for your kids.

Involvement in your Children Online Activities

More important than limiting access to dirty content is showing your kids responsible and safe online conduct, and watching their internet usage closely. 

Fundamental rules for online kid’s safety or what you can impart to your children for safe online usage:

  • Never trade or post your pictures.
  • Strict adherence to family guidelines.
  • Don’t share personal information like location, school name, or phone number.
  • Never share passwords and only use a screen name.
  • Don’t agree to meet with anybody you find online without supervision or parent approval.
  • Don’t respond to any threatening text, post, message, or email.
  • Always share with your guardian or parent concerning any conversation or communication that was hurtful or scary.

Essential Rules for Parental Supervision:

  • Invest ample time online with children to teach them how to conduct themselves.
  • Make sure the computer is in an ordinary place in the house where you can easily monitor and watch it use. Control the amount of time spent on tablets or smartphones.
  • Check phone bills and credit cards for unfamiliar deductions.
  • Pay attention to your kids once they report an awkward online exchange.

Engage the national center for exploited and missing children or your local law enforcement personnel once you are aware of viewing, use, or sending of child pornography on the web.

Several frequent red alerts are indicating your kid is a target of online predators. 

They can include:

  • Spending a lot of time on the internet, particularly during the night.
  • Suspicious telephone conversations from individuals you do not know.
  • Gifts from strangers.
  • Your kids are suddenly switching off the PC when they see you.
  • Withdraw from family activities and hesitance to talk about online issues.

Have a conversation with your kids! Ensure there is a smooth communication breakdown and also make sure they are free to discuss with you anything once they encounter an online challenge.