**Collaborative post**
If you have a child, they’re probably going to access and use the Internet from a young age. This is partially due to technological advancements.
When we were kids, we played outside, and if we were lucky enough to have a computer or mobile device, they weren’t equipped with fast internet and streaming services with all our favourite TV shows accessible at the touch of a button. In fact, my first mobile phone didn’t have internet access at all and it didn’t even have a camera, and our home internet was dial-up internet – something my children will never understand, nor will they understand only having 4 TV channels and having to time your bathroom breaks to coincide with the adverts so you didn’t miss any of your show.
If anything, these days, access to the internet is a necessity more than anything. You need it, and so do your children. Schoolwork, informational videos, and homework groups are all now online, especially post-pandemic.
Despite all this, the dangers associated with the Internet have increased tenfold, and it is up to you as a parent to make sure that your children are safe when they’re online.
Monitor your child’s online activity
Respecting your child’s privacy is important, but it is also important to make sure that they aren’t abusing the internet and that the internet isn’t abusing them either. Not only is illicit material easy to access and send but there are also the dangers of cyberbullying and creepy people contacting your child. All these are very real concerns; this is why you need to run checks on who they’re talking to online and what sites they’re accessing. You don’t need to have their device to check, by logging into your router, you can view the browsing history that was accessed while using your home network.
Communicate with your children
These measures will not be necessary if you have open discussions with your children. When you decide that your child is old enough to have a device, then it’s time to chat with them about the dangers of the internet. Let them know about stranger danger, and that innocent friendships can sometimes have sinister motives behind them – especially if they don’t know the person they’re talking to. Make them aware of the effects of cyberbullying and explicit material on the internet. These discussions help build trust and make them feel comfortable in being honest with you, in the event they see or experience something negative online.
Protect your privacy
Teaching your child about online dangers is important, but as a parent, you need to take steps to protect your child as much as you can. Research some of the best antivirus software around, and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Practice safe posting online
Another way to protect your children is to keep them safe. When you use social media, don’t share information that is too revealing, like where you live, where you are, if you’re on holiday, and most importantly don’t post too much revealing information about your children – especially photos of them while wearing their school uniforms. This makes sure that unsavoury people with ill intentions don’t have access to your life, your family and your safe space. It creates important boundaries in your life.
Of course, it isn’t too much of a problem if you only have trusted friends and family on your personal Facebook page or have a private Instagram account but if like me you share most of your life online (it is my job, after all), you need to be more careful about what is shared online and remember that there will be a time your child, or their friends, start to google themselves and if they want you to remove any pictures etc about them from being online then you need to respect their wishes.
Set an example for your children
The best way to show your children how to use the internet safely is to practice it yourself. Follow the rules that you set out for them. This not only creates a sense of fairness for them, but it also keeps you safe, because dangers are not only directed at children. Installing ransomware software on your devices protects you from threats and malware that can corrupt your systems.
Conclusion
In the digital age, it is better to be safe than sorry. This is why it is important to teach your children about the dangers of the internet – like cyberbullying, stranger danger, and illicit content. Protect your family by leading by example and installing software that will help protect them from outside threats.
