There’s no denying that the Internet has revolutionized the way we work, learn and interact. And with the recent 25th birthday of the Internet, it is a good time to look back and evaluate the online safety measures you take to protect your kids from potential dangers they could face every time they log on to play a game, do homework or chat with friends.
Common online safety tips
Just like we teach our kids to be alert around people in public, it is important for your child to keep information guarded when interacting with people online. These are the most basic of internet don’ts that all kids should know:
- Never give out personal information such as name, address, contact information or school schedules
- Don’t send pictures of yourself to strangers – they may use them to help track you down
- Tell a trusted adult if someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or threatens you
- Never agree to meet a stranger in real life who you met online
- Remember that not all people are who they claim to be online
Good rules for online safety
There are some general things you can do to help keep your child safe online. Here are just a few:
- Watch them when they are online – this will keep them from viewing things they shouldn’t and you can see who they’re talking with
- Use the safety filter options on your web browser to keep inappropriate search results and web pages from appearing
- Keep anti-virus and malware protection current to avoid hackers stealing private information about you or your kids
- Agree on what is okay to download – are music lyrics vulgar or pictures too graphic for kids their age?
With a little care and the proper coaching, your kids can experience all the great things there are to see and do online without falling victim to predators or being taken in by scams.
