With more and more Indonesians accessing the internet every day, the chances of your children entering the “online environment” are unavoidable.
Millennials grew up with smartphones, tablets and internet access, most of those by the age of 10 probably understand more about surfing the internet than their parents.
This is what worries many parents. Online scams, fake social media accounts and child predators make internet safety a top priority.
While your children may appear to be fine with their devices, they may not be aware of online threats that are difficult to monitor.
Here are some tips and tricks to make the internet safe for your child.
1. Start discussing safe internet with your children at an early age
As a parent, you should start discussing online safety with your children as soon as they start using the internet. It is advisable to accompany your children when using the device rather than letting them use it independently. This gives you the opportunity to show that there is a significant difference between the real world and the online world, they should be aware of the risks that may occur and take the necessary precautions.
2. Be alert and try to monitor what you can
Another way is to not let your kids know the passcode on your device, this way you’ll be aware whenever your kids are online. In addition, consider blocking certain sites that you consider risky so that children don’t access them. Providing an understanding of the risks of malware and viruses is also important, of course in an easy-to-understand way. Today most operating systems already have a parental control system that restricts children from opening certain websites, limits usage time, and controls which apps can be opened. You can take advantage of this feature.
3. Monitoring children’s social media
Social media is the best way for your children to interact with their friends, but social media is also a contributor to online crime, of course we hear a lot of online crimes starting from social media. You can choose to gain access to their social media accounts, so you can monitor who is messaging, their followers, and their friends list. You can also become a friend or follower of your child’s social media account, so you can keep abreast of their activities.
4. Dare children to ask for help
Good communication keeps the relationship between your children open. Do not judge your child when they are active on the internet. Make them want to ask for help when they have problems, be good listeners, and don’t discipline your child too much. With it you will be the first to know your child is in danger of online crime.
5. Keeping the boundaries between online and offline
The lines between online and offline for today’s kids are becoming increasingly blurred, so it’s important that you as a parent help set boundaries. Teach your child what’s acceptable online, and reiterate that whatever they post will be around forever. Their online activities can greatly affect their safety, as well as their future career prospects.
Conclusion
Having a parental control system on devices that children access may be like a breath of fresh air to you, because it looks easy to keep children from the evil world of the internet. But it doesn’t end there. You also need to provide an understanding of how to behave online properly, it will help them to always safely surf the world of the internet wherever they access it.
