Now that the world has become increasingly connected to the
internet at all times, there has been a huge effect on society. Children are
growing up and using technology and devices connected to the internet from a
very young age. Although the internet as a whole is taking steps to become much
safer, you can never do enough to protect your family when they are surfing the
web. Being proactive about your family's online safety and making sure everyone
is educated about the dangers can make a massive difference. Here are all the
best ways you can keep your family safe online.
Talk With Your Children
The most important part of online safety is making sure your
children know how to stay safe online. Children may not be able to spot
dangerous situations, so it's your job as a parent to make sure they know.
Telling your children how to stay safe online in an age appropriate way is
fundamental to keeping your family safe online in 2023. This is especially
important for older children, who may have more freedom and less supervision
when they use the internet.
When you talk to your children, it's important that you stay
calm and measured - although cyber danger is a scary thing, you don't want to
scare your kids. Provide context to what you are talking about - maybe
something you have seen on the news. This way, you will be bringing up online
safety in a non-confrontational way, making them more likely to listen to what
you have to say. It's important to get vital information across without being
angry or accusatory, so you can communicate better with your kids. By staying
calm, you will be able to have a productive conversation about cyber
safety.
Put Parental Controls On Devices
For younger children, putting parental control apps on their devices may be a useful tool when it comes to
protecting them from cyber danger. If your child is often using online search
engines such as Google for homework, you may want to consider installing a
parental control app. This can filter out inappropriate material, and can
protect your child from seeing something they shouldn't when surfing the
web.
Keep Screens And Devices In Sight
This is also particularly relevant for young children. For
young kids, you should be monitoring their screen at all times. When they are
using a device, you should be watching what they are doing. Keep the computer
in a central spot in the home where it's easy to look at what your child is
doing online. You should also monitor their browsing history, and set the
devices to forget Wi-Fi passwords, so they can't go online without your
permission. As children get older and can comprehend the dangers, they can earn
the privilege of private internet access. Until then, you should be monitoring
all of their internet usage.
Know What Information They Are Sharing
If your teenager uses a lot of social media platforms, you
should be aware of the information that they are sharing. Look at their
profiles - is it clear where they live, what school they attend, where they go
on a regular basis? This can be dangerous because if people can find this
information easily, it can make them a risk to be targeted by dangerous people.
Teaching your child about ˜share-awareness' and being limited about the
information they share online can help them be better protected as they use the
internet.
Use The Apps/Websites They Use
If your child wants to use a particular website or application,
it's a good idea to try it out before they do. This way, you can see all of the
features of the app and how it can protect your child. For example, does the
website or application have a block feature so they can remove anyone making
them uncomfortable? Does it have filtration systems that block harmful and
inappropriate content? This is a great way to see if your child would be safe
using the app or website, and you can make an informed decision on your child's
internet usage.
Look At Digital Footprint
A person's digital footprint could follow them around their
whole life. Every picture or bit of information shared online helps to create
someone's digital footprint. Once data is shared on the internet, it can be
very difficult to control. You should assume that everything you put online is
permanent. This is true for children's social media, and also for parents who
share photos of their kids online. This could be a huge safety risk. You should
talk to older children about putting offensive or mean things on the internet,
as this could affect them in the future. Making sure your children are aware of
their digital footprint will allow them to make better decisions when it comes
to sharing information online.
Track Their Online Time
Many paediatricians and health researchers have suggested
that most children should get no more than 2 hours of screen time every day.
This could have detrimental effects on their overall health and concentration
span. Therefore, as a parent, you should be tracking how much time they spend
in front of screens. By setting specific usage times, you will be able to help
your child recognise how much time they are spending online. You should also
try implementing screen-free days, so your children can entertain themselves
away from devices.
Be A Good Role Model
Kids often emulate their parents and look to them as an
example for how to act. By displaying good digital habits, you will be showing
them how to use the internet safely. Be careful about the information you share
about them and yourself online. Start limiting your own screen time and spend
time with your children, so they can entertain themselves without devices. By
displaying your own good behaviour, they will be more likely to have good
online habits themselves.
Educate Yourself
One of the most difficult parts of keeping your family safe
online is keeping up with how the internet has evolved over the years. Most
likely, when you were a kid, the internet wasn't as present in your life as it
is now. However, by educating yourself and keeping up with cyber security
trends, you will be able to better prepare your children for using the
internet. There are many cyber security courses available so you can educate
yourself, from business cyber security
to parental cyber security. Consider going on a course or reading some relevant
materials online so you can better understand how to protect you and your
children online in 2023.
Keeping your family safe online in 2023 can be difficult,
considering how cyber safety is changing. By following these steps, you will be
able to better protect your family as they use the internet.
