Internet Safety Tips – 8 Rules to Keep Your Child Safe on Web Space

With a sharp increase in the number of kids accessing Internet through their cell phones, parents need to know what exactly they do online. According to Pew Research Center*, three in every four kids (that makes around 74%) in the age group of 12-17 access the Internet through the digital handhelds that they personally own.

Where it is easier to keep note of wired Internet use; it is rather a difficult task for parents to know what exactly their kids do while using the mobile Internet. Even a quick look at your child’s computer screen can tell you what’s going on – whether it is a YouTube video or a science project presentation; explicit pictures or rare historical photography; endless social networking or a tour to new educational site. However, it doesn’t work this way when your child is using a cell phone for getting online and participating in various activities.But one thing is sure; you need to inculcate safe practices in your child. So, how you’re going to do it anyway?

Check below, 8 Internet Safety Rules for your Child

#1 Don’t Speak to Strangers

Remember what you taught your toddler when you first took her out? Didn’t you say, “Don’t speak to strangers”? This is exactly what your parents told you when they took you out or left you alone somewhere like a shopping mall cash counter for a while. Well, it is something that every parent says on the kid’s first interaction with the world. You must be wondering what has this to do with your teen child who’s been interacting with the world for quite long now; and what has this to do with Internet safety, right?

You shouldn’t forget strangers are always strangers and your child is always vulnerable to the wrong kind of people in the guise of honest and humble appearing strangers. Whether they are visible people with faces in the real world or they happen to have avatars or photo-shopped display pictures on the virtual world; you need to keep a safe distance.

Tip to follow: be open to your child in explaining what kind of people may be present among the strangers online.

#2 Don’t hide things – Speak out what’s troubling you

Tell your child that bad things can happen with anyone any time. Your precious one needs to know, that if anything goes wrong with her or she has to face some really bad experience online; she shouldn’t hide it. Make your child aware of all kinds of evils that make their place online, starting from cyber crime to cyber bullying, let her know about everything. Deal with all terrible looking things in a friendly way. Try to bring your perception down to your child’s level to comfort her while explaining her.

Tip to follow: don’t feel shy to keep your child aware of anything and everything. Remember, if you won’t do it; somebody else will do it. But, while you’ll do it the right way as a responsible parent; somebody else will do it the wrong way.

#3 No password sharing with friends but share it with parents.

Most kids fail to realize that parents really care and they don’t mean any wrong to their own kids. Your child may have similar feelings. This means you have a tough job to do; you’ll have to make your child realize that you really care and you mean no harm to her. And at the same time, you need to make her understand that all friends aren’t as reliable as they appear to be; this is why, she shouldn’t share her username and password with anyone other than you.

Tip to follow: know about your child and her friends. Help her understand people better and know how some people only pretend to be good though they are dreadfully bad in the real.

#4 All sites aren’t meant for you – we got to know what sites you visit

This is indeed a tough task as teenage is that part of age when kids are more hormonally driven than logically. Your child may take you wrong; yet, you’ll have to make her understand what you expect from her. In fact, you need to make her understand what every parent expects from a child. Let her know how there are hundreds of sites of various different kinds on the Web but not each of these are fit for kids. Make it clear with your child that you’ll be checking what sites she visits not because you are interested in keeping an eye on her but because you want to be double sure about her safety.

Tip to follow: keep your child aware of all kinds of sites online. Let her know how some of the sites are harmful and damaging and why she shouldn’t visit them.

#5 There’s a set time for chatting, texting, game-playing

Kids often spend their whole day using their digital devices either to access Internet or to get their dose of entertainment through chatting, texting, game-playing.  It is fine during the long summer or winter breaks but not at all good when she has to go to school and has tons of homework and other important activities to do. Also, over indulgence mars other activities such as outdoor sports, and hobbies.

Tip to follow: set a proper digital device usage rule and disallow your child to use the devices until she is done with her studies and other important activities.

#6 Not to save any confidential things on phone

Your child may save usernames and passwords for the social networking sites and chat messengers and email ID passwords on the phone. This isn’t a bad idea but most kids share their devices with their friend. Any cyber bully can misuse this privilege and steal the confidential data to harass your child later on.

Tip to follow: simply explain her, the consequences of saving things in wrong place.

#7 Don’t give information online                                    

Ask your child about the things she shares online. Make out if she gives any personal information online. If she really does so, discourage her from doing it by explaining how others can misuse her information and put her in trouble.

Tip to follow: pick up some real life examples, you will find several of them online and even in magazines and newspapers. Tell her how criminals can pose as good friends online and use her information for wrong purposes.

#8 Download only age appropriate games and apps

Your child needs to know that just the way some of the sites are inappropriate for her and she shouldn’t visit them; there are several games and apps that are not fit for her age. Make it a rule that she doesn’t download anything age inappropriate.

Tip to follow: explain the consequences and let her know it is really illegal.

But how will you make sure that your child will follow these safety rules?

Below are the things that you’ll have to do in order to make sure that your child follows all the rules.

Create a friendly atmosphere at home – talk to your child

Have you ever thought why kids hide things from parents and why they get into wrong things? You may answer your question on your own by saying that they are driven by impulses and peer-pressure and so on. Well, your point does make sense but still you can overpower your child’s impulses and peer pressure on her. Creating a friendly and healthy atmosphere at home is the most important thing to do. If your child feels free to express herself and you really give an ear to what she has to say, her impulsive urge will surely get lessen.

Talk to your child. Be her friend and let her express her thoughts freely with you. This will stop her from being secretive. And a friendly approach from your side will make her believe that you aren’t her enemy! This will also encourage her to follow your rules!

Keep a close watch on what your child is busy doing.

Keeping a watch over your child’s Internet use and digital device activities will make things clearer. You’ll not have to make any guesses about what your child does online and who her friends are. You’ll be able to know everything about her online activities starting from the sites she visits, videos she watches, to things she downloads and people she interacts either through various online channels or through chat messenger apps, emails and text messages. Simply keep track of what your child is doing with digital device monitoring technology and know all her hidden secrets. Interestingly, this will also let you know if she is really following your Internet safety rules!!

Reference: http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/03/13/teens-and-technology-2013/