Keeping your kids safe online

The internet is truly the world at your fingertips – you can have access to anything and everything on the internet in a matter of seconds.

Kids can also use the internet to gather information for their school projects and homework. Online encyclopedias and various educational programs have a wealth of information and can really be advantageous to kids.

Quite like the real world though, the internet has its dark side too, and we parents should take the necessary steps to protect our kids online – like we do in the real world.

This ‘dark side’ of the internet can be very baffling to a parent who didn’t grow up with access to the net.

Things like cyber bullying, child pornography and drinking games like NekNominate (a new fad that’s going ‘viral’) thrive online and draw in innocent and unassuming children.

What is quite frightening is that even children as young as 5 or 6 years old fall victim to the internet's 'dark side.'

That's why we've come up with tips on how to keep our kids safe online and how internet security systems such as SingTel Family Protection can help us do so.

1. Know your child’s moves.

Just like we know what our child does every minute of every day, we should know what they are up to online as well.

Parents, keep in mind that keeping track of your child’s internet activities is not snooping around. Keep note of what sites they visit, who they talk to and who they accept as ‘friends’ on social media sites.

2. Have your computer in a central location.

Having your computer in a central location like a family room or someplace you walk by often will prevent teenagers and younger kids from visiting inappropriate websites.

If your child uses a laptop, enforce a rule that they should use it only in a central location.

3. Have open conversations.

Be it about the internet or life in general, it is essential that parents develop the habit of talking to their kids openly.

Start this when they are young and when they are teenagers they won’t call you ‘weird’ or ‘nosy’ if you want to have a chat.

Show that you are genuinely interested in their hobbies, friends, and what’s going on in their lives and in school. Tell them that they can talk to you about absolutely anything and you have their back no matter what.

4. Talk to them about the dangers of the internet.

Educate your kids about internet fads and cyber bullying. Tell them that these could have devastating repercussions and show them how to use social media responsibly.

Share stories you hear about cyber bullying and how it even drives some kids to commit suicide. Teach them how to use the internet responsibly and not to partake in internet fads and cyber bullying.

Depending on your child’s age, you could also talk to them about child pornography. It's best to be safe than sorry.

5. Talk to your kids about online stranger dangers.

Talk to your kids about how we don’t talk to strangers on the road or share information with them and, worse, take anything they offer. Make your kids understand that talking to a stranger online poses the same danger.

Talk to them about the dangers of sharing information or pictures with strangers online and closely monitor who your child ‘friends’ and what pictures they share on social media.

Forbid them from taking their clothes off if anyone online asks them to and show them how to block and ignore friend requests from strangers.

6. Consider disabling the webcam.

If your computer has an attached webcam, consider removing it when your child uses the computer.

If your child uses a laptop which has a built-in camera, you can disable it by changing the settings on your laptop.

7. Agree on internet rules.

Have a discussion about internet rules with your kids. Depending on their level of understanding, discuss which sites they are allowed and not allowed to visit, what time they can use the internet and for how long.

Sit down with your child and go through their chosen websites. Ask them to show you how the site is used, and, if it is a gaming website, how it is played.

8. Check safety settings on popular websites.

On websites like Google and YouTube, you can change the safety settings to filter explicit content.

9. Install a filtering and monitoring software.

For parents with internet-using kids, filtering and monitoring software could be a lifesaver! You can have control of the websites your kids surf, block unsuitable websites and much, much more.

SingTel recently launched their ‘Family Protection’ internet security system to help us parents keep our kids safe online.

Go to the next page for more information on SingTel’s Family Protection system.

SingTel Family Protection

With no setup cost and a low monthly subscription fee, Family Protection allows you to filter inappropriate websites, screen unsuitable YouTube videos and protect your kid’s personal information.

To know more about SingTel’s Family Protection check out this video:

For more details please visit their Website

References:

http://www.parenting.com/article/keeping-your-child-safe-on-the-internet

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/help-and-advice/for-parents/online-safety/how-to-help/help-child-safe-online_wda99633.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-Your-Children-and-Teens-Safe-Online

Minoli Almeida

internet safetySingTelcyber bullyingCyber safetyFamily Protection