The Internet is great for learning new things and connecting with other people.You might know what to avoid online, but your children might not.It is scary to think about what your kids find, but there are a lot of things you can do to protect them.You can keep your kids safe online if you stay aware and communicate with them.
Step 1: Don't allow your children to find inappropriate content.
There are a lot of websites that have explicit or violent content that is not appropriate for your kids.Don't allow your kids to visit sites with pornography or graphic imagery when they first start using the internet.You should be aware of signs of bad websites, such as misspellings, pop-up ads, and unusual URLs, since they can lead to viruses.You may say to a younger child, "You're going to find a lot of helpful sites on the Internet, but there are some places that aren't safe for you to go."If you have an older child or teen, you might say something like, "I know that you know a lot about the Internet, but there are some."If your children are old enough to research and share news articles, they should check the sources to see if they are reliable.
Step 2: Discuss the risks of sharing passwords and personal information.
Explain to your kids that online people can use personal information to take advantage of them.Tell them to keep their information private, such as their birthday, full name, address, and phone number.If they come across a site that asks for personal info, you should ask them to get you.You could say something like, "I know you want to tell new friends more about you, but you have to keep some things secret so no one will steal your account or hurt you."If you get my permission, you should only give out information.
Step 3: Tell your kids that people are pretending to be other people.
Let your child know that some people are not who they think they are.They should not talk to strangers and share information with other people unless they know who they are talking to.If they need help determining if they can trust someone, ask them to come talk to you.Some people lie on the Internet and might say they are your age even if you are a grown-up.We can figure out if they are safe if you check with me first.
Step 4: It's possible that pictures posted online might be saved forever.
Some of the consequences of sharing pictures with friends may be hard for your kids to understand.It is okay for your children to post appropriate photos, but they should not post anything that is revealing or suggestive.They should be aware of how online predators could use the image to blackmail or bully them.You could say, "I respect your choice with what you do, but please don't share nude or revealing pictures of yourself."If your child feels pressured to share a photo, ask them to come to you. Once you send or post them, you can't get them back and other people might see them.You could say, "I am here to support and help you as much as I can."Don't get upset with your child if they share a revealing image, but come to me if you feel uncomfortable.They need reassuring advice just like you do.
Step 5: List the rules and guidelines for your kids.
Ask your child what sites they think are appropriate and discuss how to browse safely.If they run into trouble, give them a list of what you expect them to do.Ask before sharing any personal information.You should only add people you know.Unless you grant permission, you can't download files.There is no clicking on advertisements or free offers.
Step 6: It's a good idea to keep your computer and devices up to date.
Security measures may be added for more protection even though updates are annoying.If you see a software update on your computer, phone, or tablet, start it as soon as possible.If you use the most secure version, you should check your devices for updates frequently.It may take a while for some updates to install on your machine, so don't start them when you're trying to be productiveYou might be able to turn on auto-updates for your device so you don't have to check it every time.
Step 7: To block sites, turn on parental controls.
If you are worried about your kids finding mature content online, you can set which sites they have access to.If you want your kids to not be able to change the parental control settings on your device, set up a password.It's possible to restrict access to certain websites, apps, and content for your children.pornography, Reddit, and 4Chan are examples of sites you may want to block.There are some websites that are appropriate for kids.A majority of malicious sites will be blocked by parental filters.You can make a separate user profile for your kids in the Control Panel or System Preferences.That way, you don't have to worry about them messing with important files.When you want to use the computer, you won't have to turn on the parental block.
Step 8: They can change their social media settings.
A lot of social media posts are public, but they can get dangerous if your kids post something personal online.When you are with your kids, log into their accounts to check their privacy settings.Show them how to set their accounts private if you notice they are posting publicly.They can still share a lot with their friends.Depending on which sites and apps you are using, the privacy settings you use will be different.You can set posts to public, private, or accessible by friends of friends on Facebook.
Step 9: If you want to hide your location, turn off the data.
Some websites add location tags to posts, which may let strangers know where your kids are.Go into the location settings on the website or app and turn them off so it doesn't use or share the information publicly.Let your kids know not to share their location in public.Meta-data is added to images on some social media sites.Some websites may not hide the information.
Step 10: Your kids can easily access the websites.
A few letters off from reliable sites can expose your kids to dangerous content.Save the pages and show your kids how to access them instead of having them type in the URL each time.You can make a list of your kids favorite sites.If you have other bookmarks on your browser, make a new folder labeled "KIDS" or use your child's name to make it easier for them to find the sites.
Step 11: If your computer has one, cover it.
It may seem silly, but some viruses can access yourWebcam even when you aren't using it.If you aren't using your webcam, tape a piece of paper or put a sticky note over it.You can buy sliding webcam covers that attach to your computer so you can easily open and close them.
Step 12: Before your child shares posts and pictures, check them for personal information.
If your kids don't understand the risks of sharing personal information, have them ask you before they post.The names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses of your family could affect their privacy.Let your child know if you notice any of these in the post.Ask your kids to add you as a friend on their social media accounts so you can keep up with their posts.Ask your child if they would share the same post or photo with a stranger.They should not share the post if they don't answer yes.
Step 13: If you keep your devices in an open area, you can see what your kids are doing.
It makes it easier for your kids to hide their online activity if you have a home office.Limit the use of devices in public areas of your home so you can keep an eye on your kids.You can easily step in if you notice them getting into sites they aren't supposed to be on.Don't allow your child to bring their phone or computer to their room when they go to bed.Allow it to charge somewhere else so they aren't tempted to use it.
Step 14: Before your child downloads anything, inspect files and websites.
It's important to make sure your kids don't download unknown files because they can be dangerous.If your child wants to download a program, make sure the site where they found it is reliable.The file should be avoided if you don't feel comfortable or are questioning the site.When you try to open a downloaded file, your computer may have additional security measures.You should only download files that you trust.
Step 15: You can teach your kids safe computer use by browsing the internet with them.
If you are worried about what your child will do on the computer, plan some activities where you can use it together.Look up spots to go on vacation, research a hobby, or type up a family newsletter.If you are online with them, show them how to use the internet well.It works well for kids who can't navigate the internet on their own.
Step 16: There should be time limits for using the computer.
If your kids are constantly in front of a screen, they may develop bad habits.Set a timer and let your kids go online for 30 minutes at a time.As soon as the timer goes off, tell them it's time to finish.Limit their time on devices to 2 hours.If you can, try to go screen-free some days during the week.If your kids are going to stay online too late, you should turn off your modem at night.
Step 17: There are signs of cyberbully.
It is easy for people to make mean and offensive comments online.If you notice that your child doesn't go online as often, it could be a sign that they're getting bullied.Talk to your child about what is going on and try to get as much information as you can.You could say, "I noticed you looked upset when you were looking at your phone earlier."If your child still gets cyberbullied, you may need to report the bully to the website or law enforcement.
Step 18: If your kids try to hide what they are doing, be careful.
If your kids are doing something online that they shouldn't be, they may try to cover it up.Ask your child what they are doing.If you can keep your conversations open, your kids will not feel like they need to hide anything.It is possible that a predator is targeting your child if they start spending long hours online, are reluctant to talk about their computer activities, or start getting calls from people you don't know.If this happens, reach out to your child and ask them what is happening.Let them know that you are not upset, but concerned for their safety.
Step 19: If your children post or share something that is not appropriate, comfort them.
It can be frustrating when your kids hide something, but they might think they will get in trouble.Keep calm and have a discussion with them.Don't blame them if you ask them questions about what happened.Let them know how to manage the issue going forward.Instead of asking "Why did you do that?", you might instead say "What happened?" showing that you're supportive and loving builds trust and helps your children open up to you more if they have issues in the future.
Step 20: If you suspect illegal activity, report it to law enforcement.
There are ways to manage the situation when your children are targeted online.You can reach out to your local law enforcement by phone or submit a tip online.The law enforcement officials will let you know how to proceed.You can send reports to the cybertip.org.Children should be taught how to report and block people on social media sites.