Rather than using technology just to keep kids occupied, we need to educate them about it.
This comprehensive guidewill show you howyou can protect kids online.
In recent years, this trend has even skewed a bit younger.
The prevalence of smartphones among 8-year-olds in the US has nearly tripled compared to 2015.
Whats more, half of all children in the US have their own smartphone by the age of 11.
Smartphones give kids unprecedented freedom: The ability tocommunicate with people without supervisionand consumewhatever content they desire.
Implement smartphone rules with your child. Ensuring your kids involve you in their phone activities will help keep them safe.
Demonstrate to them that having a smartphone is a big responsibility.
Most of the big streaming content providers have parental controls, some more robust than others.
Using these tools, you canensure that your kids only have access to age-appropriate content.
Implement smartphone rules with your child. Ensuring your kids involve you in their phone activities will help keep them safe.
For example, Netflix allows you to set up separate profiles for you and your children.
iTunes and Apple TV have long enabled parents to set rating levels for the content viewed by their children.
Many games have a multiplayer component or are entirely online.
Kids may also form relationships with other players and may give away their personal information.
They can also be a great opportunity for family bonding.
Children nowadays spend an enormous amount of time on their screens; on social media in particular.
Most social media platforms require users to be 13 years of age to sign up.
Access to social media is central to teens developing social identity.
However,it can be extremely addictive for tweens and teens.
So understanding how it works and its effects is essential if you want to protect kids online.
The key here is to set boundaries so that it remains a positive experience.
5. Cyberbullying
Our childrens lives have moved online.
Unfortunately, their bullies have, too.
Cyberbullying is frequently in the news and reports ofchild suicides due to online harassmentare becoming more common.
Cyberbullying occurs across all of the platforms weve already outlined, and it comes in many forms.
It is also extremely persistent.
Because digital platforms are constantly available, victims of cyberbullying struggle to find any relief.
Its often very difficult to tell if your child is being bullied online.
It happens digitally, so parents and teachers are less likely to overhear or notice it.
Only 1 in 10 children targeted by cyberbullying confide in their parents or another trusted adult about their experiences.
Another survey revealed that approximately 50% of children have encountered cyberbullying at some point in their lives.
The best way to prevent cyberbullying or and protect kids online is to be aware of your childs behavior.
A child who is bullied may shut down their social media account and open a new one.
He or she may begin to avoid social situations, even if they enjoyed being social in the past.
They may become emotionally distressed or withdrawn.
It’s easy to forget that children are susceptible to information security threats that can cause significant financial harm.
In fact, more than half of identity theft cases involving children affected kids aged 9 and younger.
Even more worrying, 70% of child identity theft and fraud cases involve someone the child knows.
In fact, 54% of children encountered pornographic content before the age of 13.
Encounters with sexual content online might occur accidentally, through peers, or from a place of natural curiosity.
Many children, fearing reprimand or loss of privileges, hesitate to approach their parents after encountering such content.
This conversation is a great opportunity to direct your kids to positive resources about sexuality.
At any moment, an estimated 50,000 predators are scouring the Internet, preying on vulnerable children.
Predators engage in a practice called grooming.
In other words, they attempt to form a relationship with a child to later abuse them.
Warning signs include increased secrecy, sudden mood changes, withdrawal, and distraction.
What should you communicate to your child?
As weve mentioned, the key isnt mastering a set of complicated technical tools.
Ensuring internet safety should be a top priority for all parents and caregivers.
Click here toshare it on FacebookorTwitter.
