Teaching Kids About Internet Safety: Essential Lessons for Today’s Digital World
As the world gets more digitised, from our financial transactions to our children’s homework, it’s important to teach our kids about internet safety and the risks that come with being a part of the digital world. Being prepared for all possibilities and being knowledgeable about how to handle them can empower our kids to make smart decisions in a time of crisis. If you’re a fellow parent wondering about how to make online safety a part of your kids’ values, here are 5 internet safety lessons that you should begin with:
5 Lessons To Teach Your Kids: Internet Safety Edition
1 Your Personal Information Is Not To Be Shared
As our kids grow up, the concept of safety and privacy is bound to come up. While discussing internet safety, make sure you mention the importance of keeping your personal information private. You can start by discussing what’s acceptable and unacceptable to share on social media. Set ground rules to be followed. For example, you can post happy pictures on social media such as from family vacation, but sharing details about where you live or your financial transactions is a no-go. Also sharing personal information with strangers or online friends can be harmful. By helping them figure out how they can navigate the digital world and teaching them to keep their online safety intact, you can help them understand the concept of internet safety.
2 Be Responsible And Respectful
One of the most important aspects of living in today’s digital world is to be a part of the community. For that, one needs to be respectful as well as responsible. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children to be responsible. They can do this in the digital world by protecting their privacy, being aware of cyberthreats and scams, reporting illegal and inappropriate activities, and standing up against cyberbullies. On the other hand, being respectful of the community and the people that it comprises is equally important. Children should focus on following the community guidelines, respecting intellectual property, being mindful of how they interact with others, and avoid spreading misinformation.
3 Always Use An Antivirus Software
Another important lesson for today’s digital age is to protect yourself. As a parent, you should introduce your children to proper anti-malware software usage as soon as possible. Whether you use a paid or free antivirus program, helping your child understand what it is and how to use it can protect their devices and personal information from any harm that may come their way and can be an important component of ensuring internet safety. You can tell them that antivirus software works as a guardian that keeps malwares away from their devices, which otherwise would’ve stolen their information or infected their device.
4 Strong Passwords Are Your Best Friends
While a strong free antivirus for Android and all your other devices can protect your devices from malicious softwares, using a strong password management system can be the best way to protect your social media accounts. A good password manager can store all your passwords, renew them from time to time, alert you when someone hacks your account and give more protection to your accounts than two-factor authentication. Encourage your kids to use a trustworthy password manager for their accounts to keep them safe online.
5 Your Parents Are Always There For You
Last but not least, teaching your kids about internet safety and privacy involves giving them the space they need to express themselves to you. Teach them that even in the digital world, you’re always there to protect them from any harm. This will give them the confidence to explore the internet with more curiosity while keeping safety in mind. This will give them comfort and make them believe that they can come to you when they need you and you’ll be there for them in a loving manner. And if it does happen, make sure to be gentle with your kid and not criticise them, as it can be the foundation to trust building in the future.
Final Thoughts
Today’s digital age is the perfect time to explore like never before, but it should be done by keeping internet safety in mind. Whether you’re a parent, or a teenager trying to understand how you can protect your privacy and presence in cyberspace, keeping the tips above in mind will help you stay vigilant and smart in the digital world.
