Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
For a child, the internet can be a fantastic tool for learning, communication and entertainment. However, it can also pose several dangers to them.
As a parent, we can’t always be there to protect our children, so it is only natural to be worried about their internet safety and risk of being exposed to cyberbullying or inappropriate content.
Thankfully, there are several essential strategies you can adopt to keep your children safe in today’s digital world.
In this article, we will help you to become more aware of them by highlighting what dangers children face online and how to reduce the risk of anything untoward happening to them.
Should your child, unfortunately, become a victim of an e-crime, we will also look at what you can do to bring the perpetrators to justice.
What dangers do children face online?
Sadly, children face several dangers online from people all over the world. So, as a parent, it is crucial to be aware of the risks they could be exposed to.
Here are some of the most common dangers children in Australia face online:
Cyberbullying
As its name suggests, cyberbullying is a type of bullying that occurs online. It can take many forms, including sending threatening messages, spreading rumours or derogatory comments or sharing embarrassing videos or photos of the victim.
This type of abuse can have severe consequences for children and while those who initiate bullying online can have legal consequences to deal with, it can easily be happening to your child without you knowing about it.
Online Predators
Online predators are individuals who use the internet to prey on children for nefarious purposes. These could include under-age sex, child abduction, pornography and slavery. Sometimes, they may even pretend to be someone else, such as a child or a teenager, to gain the trust of their victims.
Inappropriate Content
Even just with an inadvertent click of a mouse, the internet can expose children to inappropriate content, such as violence, pornography, or hate speech.
This content can be harmful to their mental and emotional health, and it can even desensitise or attract them to violent, inappropriate or criminal behaviours.
Scams and Phishing Attempts
Scammers and phishers often use the internet to trick people into giving away their personal information. Some children may not be aware of these risks and may unwittingly proffer sensitive information to them.
Cyberstalking
Cyberstalking is a form of online harassment that involves repeatedly sending threatening or harassing messages to someone. Children can often become victims of cyberstalking, which can be traumatic and cause emotional distress.
Malware and Viruses
Children can inadvertently download malware or viruses onto their devices by clicking on suspicious links or downloading infected files in good faith. Doing this can compromise their personal information and damage their devices.
These are just a few of the many dangers children face online.
For this reason, parents must take appropriate steps to protect their children from these risks. In the next section, we will showcase some of the most effective things you can do.
How to Keep your Children Safe Online
If you are worried about the best way to protect your children in the digital world, here are some tips for keeping your kids safe online.
Educate Yourself First
Before you can educate your children about internet safety, it is essential to educate yourself first.
The best way to do this is to keep up with the latest trends and threats in cybercrime and educate yourself on the most common ways children get exposed to risks online.
Have Open Communication
One of the most effective ways of protecting your children while they are online is to have open communication with them about their online activities.
Encouraging them to come to you with any concerns they may have will go a long way towards fostering an environment of trust. By discussing the potential dangers of the internet and how to avoid them, you will be reassuring them that you have their back.
It is worth letting them know that you are not intending to invade their privacy but rather want to ensure their safety.
Set Boundaries
Many parents choose to set boundaries for their child’s internet use. If you intend to do this, it is important to let your child know what is and isn’t allowed.
Work with them to create a schedule for internet use and make sure your child only has access to websites that are appropriate for their age.
Use Parental Controls
One of the best ways to ensure your child only accesses the age-appropriate websites is to use parental controls.
You can set this up on home computers, mobile devices, and gaming consoles, and they can be used to block or filter specific websites you don’t want your child to visit.
You can also limit the amount of time your child spends online and control their access to online chat rooms.
Monitor Your Child’s Activities
It is also worth keeping an eye on your child’s online activities.
You can do this by periodically checking their browsing history to make sure they are not engaging or being subjected to inappropriate behaviour online or interacting with strangers.
It is important to explain to them why it is necessary to be cautious about what information they share online and teach them to never share personal information with strangers.
Use Security Software
To protect your home network and devices, it is important to use security software, such as antivirus software and firewalls.
Always ensure your software is up-to-date and that you are using the latest version. Additionally, use a password manager to create and manage strong passwords.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Another good strategy to adopt is to put two-factor authentication in place for all your online accounts.
Doing this will add an extra security layer to your online accounts by requesting a code or verification from your phone or another device.
Teach Your Child to Recognise Scams
To help them protect themselves, it is important to teach your child to recognise online scams and phishing attempts.
Make sure you explain to them the dangers of clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources. Also, teach them to check the URL of the website they are visiting and ensure it is a legitimate site.
Report Suspicious Activity
Should your child see any suspicious or inappropriate activities online – such as bullying, harassment, or inappropriate content – it is important to teach them to flag it with you or a trusted adult.
It is a good idea to encourage them to do this, even if they weren’t affected by it personally.
What to do if your child is a victim of online crime
If your child has been the victim of online crime, it is essential to take immediate action to ensure their safety and well-being.
The first thing you should do is report the incident. Be sure to contact the police, your internet service provider or an appropriate authority like the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation as necessary. They can help you investigate the incident and take action to prevent further harm.
You should also seek support for your child, especially if you believe they have suffered emotional trauma after the incident. Consider seeking professional counselling or therapy too in order to help them cope with its effects.
Additionally, it is worth documenting all the evidence you can collate about the incident. This might include emails, screenshots of messages or photos, which can all help law enforcement in their investigation.
It is also a good idea to review your current security measures to prevent future incidents and make any necessary adjustments to parental controls and passwords and monitor your child’s online activities as required.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with some good strategies on how to keep your child safe online.
As parents, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about the risks associated with the digital world.
In this respect, prevention is very much the key. So, by taking proactive steps to protect your child online, as outlined above, you can significantly reduce the risk of your child becoming a victim of online crime.