The digital world is jam-packed with threats that have been negatively influencing kids’ physical, mental, and psychological health. From cyberbullying to child predation, there are innumerable dangers victimizing adolescents. Parents can play a key role in ensuring the protection of children from the potential dangers of the cyber world. They do not need to be a tech freak to safeguard their kids from cyber dangers.
This article discusses the most effective practices that enable non-tech savvy parents to safeguard their kids from online threats and make the digital world secure and kid-friendly.
Monitor Kids’ Digital Lives
The first and foremost step to ensure kids’ online protection is monitoring. It is crucial to supervise the online and offline activities of children to keep them from wrongdoings. You must know what information your kids are searching on the internet; what activities they are performing on social media sites and how they are using instant messengers. You should follow kids’ social media accounts to keep an eye on their posts.
There are monitoring apps that enable non-tech savvy parents to supervise kids’ digital lives by tracking their mobile phones and computers. Get the digital devices of kids installed with the app and remotely monitor every online and offline activity including internet, social media, and internet usage.
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Use Parental Controls
Google offers a parental control app that enables parents to manage the internet access of children. You can protect your kids from exposing to sexually explicit, objectionable and age-inappropriate stuff. Manage your kid’s Chrome searches with the use of integrated parental control settings. You can also prevent your kids from using inappropriate mobile apps by setting up parental controls of the Google Play Store.
Keep Devices at Visible Place
It is important not to provide computers or internet-connected mobile phone devices to younger children in their personal rooms. Keep the family computer somewhere visible at home from where you can easily monitor computer activities. If you provide digital devices to kids in their rooms, it is difficult to keep a secret eye on their usage.
Set Digital Rules
Rules can help a lot in preventing children from insecure and irresponsible use of digital devices. Compile a list of rules to manage the use of mobile phones and computers. Make it obligatory to follow the rules inside and outside the home. You can reward kids by following the rules or get back privileges on breaking the rules. Given are examples of a few most effective digital rules.
- Do not allow using age-inappropriate mobile apps including social media and gaming apps.
- Do not allow going online late at night.
- Do not allow bringing mobile phones to the dining table.
- Make it compulsory for kids to inform parents about any negative experience on online platforms.
- Do not share passwords with anyone.
- Do not post personal information on the internet.
Do not Accept Unknown Friend Requests
Social media platforms enable users to interact with people across the world without discrimination of age, gender, and religion. Anyone can send a friend request to your kids and can send messages. Do not allow your kids to accept friend requests from unknown persons without having enough reliable or verified information.
Do not Respond to Bullies
Cyberbullying is the most common online danger putting a horrible impact on the mental and psychological health of the victim. Help your kids learn how they should deal with bullies. Sometimes responding to a negative or harassing comment can only add fuel to the fire. It is recommended not to respond to the bully in a furious way. Also, do not delete the bullying stuff right away because it can be used as evidence.
Talk about Online Dangers
Having frequent discussions about online threats is important to educate kids about these dangers. Let them know what are online bullying, child predation, and common online crimes. Also, help them learn ways to deal with online dangers.
The Bottom Line
In this digital age, parents are responsible to protect children from the vulnerabilities of the cyber world. The most effective practice to secure kids’ digital lives is monitoring, setting rules, and educating kids about the vulnerabilities of the digital world. Supervise your kids’ digital behavior and help them learn using the online platforms in a secure and responsible way.