Tips for every parent: Online Safety for my child

There is no doubt that as parents, we do everything we can to keep our children safe and well, from covering them with sunscreen before going out in the sun; to being careful when crossing a road and always wearing a helmet when cycling. But what are you doing to protect them from bullies, predators and inappropriate content online?

There is a real concern around Internet safety for children since they are in many respects savvier than their parents when it comes to the Web. Fortunately, family Internet safety is becoming more of a priority. If you have not done so already, it is time to introduce some cyber safety know-how to your parenting toolkit.

Through the use of malware infections, drive-by downloads, advertising pop-ups, attachments, weblinks, and more, spyware can mistakenly end up on a device exposing children to inappropriate content ranging from sexually explicit to violent obscene or age-inappropriate content.

The question, “how do I provide internet safety for my kids when I may not have extensive technical knowledge”, becomes less daunting with easy-to-use software and tips.

Managing online activity

A popular application, especially for younger children, is the Google Family Link application that is downloadable for free from your app store. Google Family Link is a family parental control service that allows parents to adjust parameters for their children’s devices. The application allows parents to restrict content, approve and disapprove apps, manage screen time and more. It allows for responsible use without invading their privacy. It is a good balance for both parent and child.

Antivirus – not the free kind

Installing a rigorous antivirus product capable of defending all of your families’ computers and mobile devices against malicious programs and hackers is a no brainer. Many Internet security software products combine antivirus capabilities and advanced parental control features that make it easier to protect your children when they’re online. Preferably pay a small fee for a premium version as opposed to a free offer. You should look for these features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-spam filtering
• Phishing protection
• Parental controls
• Real-time web browsing monitoring

Keep control of your family digital footprint.

You can assume that anything posted online is permanent (it can sometimes be deleted but not always before others have seen it and saved it). For this reason, children and young people need to be smart about protecting their images and information. The same goes for parents who regularly post pictures of their children online.

Use the privacy settings on the social media platforms you use to ensure that only trusted friends see the content, your content cannot be shared or downloaded and that your profiles are kept private.

As adults, we know that some people online aren’t who they say they are, but children and young people can be alarmingly naïve about who they are chatting with if they are not taught to be cyber wise from an early age.

Make sure you become friends and contacts within your child’s social media circles and ensure you monitor posts. Your children may resist but tell them that is one of the conditions for you to allow them access. While they won’t fully understand the consequences of revealing personal information online, you should teach them to be cautious and thoughtful about what they post and share. Encourage your children to ask themselves before posting anything if the information (i.e. name, phone number, home address, email, name of school) or photo is something they would give a stranger. If the answer is no, don’t post it.

Keep your location settings private.

Most apps, networks and devices have geo-tagging features which make your whereabouts public and can lead someone directly to you. These features should be turned off for obvious privacy and safety reasons. Digital photos also contain metadata (information about the time, date and GPS coordinates) which may reveal more than you want to. Some social media platforms automatically hide or remove this data, but not all, so do your homework and know how much info you are sharing. The key with any new app is not just to accept all the permission pop-ups without understanding the impact. 

Be #SocialNetworkSavvy

Educate yourself on ways to be safe on social networks so that you can give the best advice to your children. Sign up for the social networks and apps that your children are using. Find out how to use the privacy settings and reporting mechanisms. Talk about how they can stay safe on social networks, including talking to a trusted person when they are worried and being aware of what constitutes online bullying – both as a perpetrator and a victim.

If your child uses social networks, be sure they know how to:

• Report inappropriate and/or offensive posts
• Block someone
• Keep information private.

Lead by example

Lead by example and always model the kind of positive online behaviour you would like your children to use. If they see you being cautious and respectable when you are online, they are more likely to follow in your footsteps. And, yes, this includes limiting your own screen time.

Ultimately, you don’t want to instil fear in your child or prevent them from experiencing the many educational, entertainment, social and other benefits of the internet, but rather give them the skills and knowledge they need to know how to make the most of it and avoid the dangers.

Disabling pop-ups ads.

Many social media platforms and downloaded or online games make their money through advertising. A lot of these advertisements are not age-appropriately managed to that of the user. Pop up ads must be one of the most dangerous things for small hands. Disable pop up ads as much as possible by opening the Chrome app and, in the upper right corner, tap on the settings menu. Scroll down to Site settings. Tap Pop-ups and redirects and tap the toggle to block pop-ups.

The internet is not all bad, there are many splendid things and advantages. It is a tool we would have all preferred over multiple encyclopedia books growing up. Possibly one of the greatest things about the Internet, is that a simple Google search can help you protect your family from the Internet. When in doubt, chances are Google will have the answer. Be safe. Be kind. Enjoy.