If you’re concerned about your family’s online safety (as all parents should be), then there are a number of precautions and principles worth bearing in mind. So, what are they, and why does online safety matter?
Understand the Digital Risks Children Face
Children face a number of special difficulties online, which largely stem from ignorance of the way that the online world works. They might find themselves exploited on social media, by malicious strangers, and even people whom they know, like classmates.
They might unwittingly log on to an unsafe wi-fi network, and have their data intercepted and exposed. In some cases, certain information might even be used to manipulate and blackmail.
Fortunately, these threats can be mitigated, and often avoided entirely. But how?
Create Age‑Appropriate Rules for Devices and Screen Time
No child needs constant access to the internet. Setting clear and unbending rules on screen time is highly advisable. You might set these rules in collaboration with your child. Younger children might be denied access to games and services that older children can freely enjoy. But in both cases, you’ll want to monitor usage and intervene where necessary.
Teach Kids About Safe Browsing & Online Behaviour
When children understand what they’re up against, and how to distinguish between malicious links and benign ones, they’ll stand a much better chance of staying safe. Have age-appropriate conversations about why personal information should stay private, and make sure that your children feel comfortable approaching you with any concerns. When your children trust you, they’ll be much less likely to keep problems to themselves.
Secure Your Home Wi‑Fi and Connected Devices
If your home’s wi-fi network is compromised, your children will be vulnerable. Make sure that your router’s firmware is regularly and automatically updated, and that the user and administrator passwords are regularly changed.
Use Privacy Tools to Protect Your Family’s Online Identity
There are a number of special tools that will help to preserve your privacy. For example, a good VPN or proxy might allow you to conceal your IP address from your service provider, and other people. Parents can learn how to change IP address, and thereby keep children safe when using shared networks.
Know What to Do If Your Child’s Privacy Is Compromised
It’s worth understanding exactly how you’re going to react in the event that your child’s privacy really if compromised, despite your best efforts. To begin with, you can get the account back, and report harmful behaviour to the relevant online service. When the incident has impacted your child’s behaviour, you might judge it worth advising your child’s school, even if you don’t think other children at the school were to blame. In serious cases, it might be worth advising the police.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be an expert in technology to keep your children safe. Often, doing so is a simple matter of adopting a number of commonsense habits. Make sure that your devices are secure, that your children understand how to behave online, and that you understand how to escalate any issues that arise.
