KID-SAFE: Safety Tips for Kids Using the Internet

by John Ocampos, Guest Contributor

The Internet changed the way we lived in ways and means we did not even completely see when it first became public in 1991. Then, the world fell head over heels crazy over the technology that opened the doors for them to all be connected in a digital realm. For the first time, the general public was given access to a global, online community that knows no distance and boundaries once you get connected. Through the years, advancements have been made exponentially to improve this benefit the Internet delivers—connectivity. 
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This generation will never know the adventures of dial-up connections because it is so quick to connect these days, whether thru DSL, fiber, or satellite. Quantum internet technology is also in development for commercial release in the future. All these and more just to provide better, faster, more secure connectivity. 

A VNI Global IP Traffic Forecast in 2015 stated there will be around 4.1 internet users in 2020. That forecast is close because today, a Digital 2020 report by We Are Social says that internet users have grown to 4.54 billion, with 3.80 billion of them on social media. These numbers will only just increase as the Internet infrastructure gets to more people and more places on the planet because there are over 5.19 billion mobile phone users globally to date.

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But as with any technology, vulnerabilities are numerous with the advent of the Internet. Yes, doors have been opened for us to enter the digital world, but we need to remember those doors are effectively swinging wide open to our homes too. We have given the world access to our homes, our family, and especially our children. 

The Internet Has Opened Access to Our Homes
Interestingly, some parents would go through leaps and bounds to physically protect their children from predators and other dangers in society today, but be so relaxed with monitoring their children’s Internet activities. We lecture our children endlessly about not talking to strangers, but some of us allow our children to surf the Internet—the big, wide world of strangers—without adult supervision. A parent may say, “They’re just playing games, talking with their friends, browsing stuff on the internet, what’s the harm in that?” We may not know entirely what’s lurking around our children as they surf the Internet, but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. The Internet also carries with it something so powerful that it can reach through the screens of your children to their physical world—influence. In a parent’s mind, that new smartphone they gave as a gift to their child cannot cause harm because it is just a device. It is not. It is a door to your child’s life because, through this wonder of connectivity, influence comes, and influence is a powerful thing. Do you even know what kids are doing online these days? 

In 2016, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education released the “Children’s Internet Usage Study” that gave an account of how 4th to 8th graders in America use the Internet, and this is what they found out: children are constantly engaging with strangers on the Internet. Some are even arranging for meet-ups in the real world, right under their parents’ noses, and not all instances have been safe for these young people who do. A lot of them have been harmed unimaginably because of something that seemed so simple. That smartphone, then, isn’t just a device after all. 

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These statistics by the same study are alarming:

• 29% are using the Internet in ways their parents will not approve
• 21% visit sites where they can chat or connect with strangers
• 17% are visiting sites with sexual, adult content (photos or videos)
• 11% are visiting sites to get instructions for cheating on schoolwork
• 4% are visiting gambling sites

With 70% of the children on cell phones, 64% on tablets, and 48% on a personal computer within their bedrooms, we have made it harder upon ourselves to monitor our children’s internet activity and guard them against the dangers of the Internet that come with its many benefits. 

Parental Guidance is Advised 
Every technology meant for good can always be used for evil in the hands of malicious people. The Internet is no exception, and we should start being vigilant to educate our children lovingly and level-headedly regarding their internet use. Remember, they are not like us. All of us who grew up before things got so techie might think that it’s just easy to swipe that phone away from our children’s hand because they’ll survive. They will survive, but don’t forget, connectivity is no longer a luxury for them like in our generation, it’s a necessity. This is the world they know, not ours. We cannot keep using lines like, “When I was your age, we didn’t need the Internet.” How will we know if we needed the Internet when we were younger when we did not have it at all? As parents or adults accountable to guide the future adults of society, we need to strike that balance in managing our children’s internet use, not to ban them from it, but to empower them to be aware, alert, and safety-savvy with their use of the Internet. Hopefully, if we do our jobs correctly, they grow up empowered and empowering their children, and so on.

Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Their Kids Safe Online
Here are some ways you need to educate your children to stay safe while using the Internet:

1. Talk to Your Kids – every parent needs to establish a good relationship with their children. Allot time for this despite busy schedules. Our children come as a priority before our jobs or careers. It does not mean we all quit our jobs and all, but to manage our time well so that we are constantly and reliably present in our children’s lives. It’ll be hard for our children to receive correction from us if we are hardly there, and they don’t feel we care. Kids spell love as T-I-M-E, so make time for them. This is where it all starts. When your children know you care for them, it will be easier for them to be open-minded about what you are actually saying. You just don’t want them to do stuff because you said so. You want them to see the value of being careful even on the Internet so they will take the initiative to keep themselves secure. Talk to them about the recent trends and threats to cybersecurity. Include in casual conversations, like over dinner or as you are tucking them into bed. Let them understand WHY cybersecurity means a lot to you—because your children’s safety means a lot to you. As you grow this awareness organically with your children, you’ll be surprised how they will form their own smart ideals on this matter, and how they will find and execute ways to protect themselves in real life and online. 
   
2. Keep All Computers in Common, Unlocked Areas of the House – Hackers have been found to use webcams to spy on unsuspecting users. Just imagine if you allow your children to sleep with a computer or laptop opened near them, that is not good at all. It is also a safety measure to establish internet usage schedules at home and to have times and areas of the house that should be gadget-free, like the dining table during family meals, or the bedroom. You may also turn off connections at night, if possible. For some smart homes, this may not be an option, so designating all internet-connected devices in common areas and setting up a time for gadget use is a quick way to teach your kids discipline on their gadget and internet use.   
3. Don’t Talk to Strangers, In Real Life or Online – Make your children aware that the Internet is a world of strangers, and they should enter cautiously. They cannot be too trusting, as adult hackers, child predators, and other cybercriminals can pose as children through fake accounts just to gain your children’s attention and trust.   
4. Keep Private Information Private – Teach Your Children NOT to give out private information, like their name, address, family dynamics (like mom’s schedule at work, dad’s home only on weekends, I’m alone most of the time). Malicious people know how to take their time. They know how to extract this information without breaking your children’s trust, and that’s scary because it only means they want more.  
5. Make Internet Time a Family Activity – Bond with your kids over a movie, or share some interesting articles over dinner, or maybe check on the extended family on social media together. This way, you’ll get to know your children better and vice-versa. You’ll also get to see the interests they have on the Internet and guide them seamlessly whenever you see a site that may not be appropriate for their age or maturity, or if it does not fit with your values or culture as a family.   
6. No Private Passwords – Internet use is a necessity, but it is a privilege your kids enjoy under your roof. Since they are minors, you need to know their passwords so you can periodically check on their accounts. Check with their consent. Check their accounts in their presence as well. You need to respect your children’s privacy to a certain degree, but they also need to realise that they need to be accountable to you regarding their smartphone and internet use.  
7. Watch for Unusual Behavior or Activities - The Internet will not be the only culprit every time you see odd behavior or actions your kids engage in, but it pays to notice any unusual changes so you can be there for your children in case they are going through a difficult time or some kind of situation that’s stressing them out. Some minors victimized through their online interactions often do not tell their parents out of shame or fear. But you know your children more than anyone else. You should. Any unusual changes in behavior are like smoke that leads to a fire somewhere. Hopefully, your kids trust you enough and feel safe to share what they are going through, especially if it is something that is a threat or already harming them.   
8. Think before You Post – Teach Your children proper social media etiquette that can guide them as they post content online. Teach them what kind of content is safe, respectful, and not revealing your family’s whereabouts. Teach your kids to turn off location tags on their pictures and the like, and to be careful in “signing in” to events, locations, and the like, no matter how tempting it may seem. “Everyone’s doing it, so it’s okay,” does not cut it when it comes to cyber attackers who specifically prey on underaged minors who reveal their whereabouts on social media. As a parent, avoid sharing your children’s pictures too. What may look so cute and harmless, like your children at the beach wearing swimwear, is like shark bait for pedophiles. You posting that you are going away for two weeks on a cruise or vacation is a big no-no as well. It’s a wide-open advertisement that your children will not have a parental physical presence on those times.   
9. Use Parental Controls and Good ISP – check with your internet service provider regarding parental controls and other filtering and blocking features they may have. If your service provider does not have that, you may change services or install security software and apps that would do the job. If your ISP lacks capability, use safe-surfing options like your browser. Internet Explorer has Content Advisor that filters out language, nudity, sex, and violence on a 0 to 4 scale (under Tools/Internet Options/Content). For Mac users, Netscape and Safari have parental controls like filtering too. Some devices and smartphones can also be tweaked so you can ensure your kids remain safe while browsing the Internet.   
10. Follow and Befriend Your Child on Their Social Media Accounts – Your children may cringe at the thought, but it actually makes sense to not post something your momma will not be proud of, especially when they are minors. It’s not to troll your kids, and you should not so you don’t embarrass your kids online, but it is for lurkers to also know that there is a parent here who’s watching. Even in real life, criminals get discouraged from invading a home when a parent is present. The same goes for online. Attackers know those kids whose parents are not a significant influence in their lives, and they swoop in to fill that void by bearing gifts that entice your kids. If the child lacks attention, the attacker lures with showering them with it. If the child is always alone, and there is no one to talk to, the attackers will do that oh, so well. Their purpose is to get your kids, our kids to trust them so they can exploit that opportunity to their benefit. 

Safety Tips for Kids Using the Internet
There are a lot of media out there that is available for you to use in educating your children on internet safety. The key is not just talking about it once or twice, but making it a consistent topic and principle you all, as a family, should practice. This video below is for younger kids and easy to remember too:

Conclusion: Internet Security for Our Kids Begins With Us
Connectivity is one of the Internet’s greatest gift to mankind. But we should be connected to our children to a higher degree and hold the most significant influence in their lives, not some device, service, or “influencer” on social media, and certainly not cybercriminals waiting to exploit every chance they can get. Be there for your children in every aspect of their lives, including their online life. Internet security for our children does not begin with a software or an app or a computer class in school. It starts with us. Take an active role in keeping your kids internet-ready, internet-smart, and internet-safe. 

About the author:

John Ocampos is an Opera Singer by profession and a member of the Philippine Tenors. Ever since, Digital Marketing has always been his forte. He is the Founder of SEO-Guru and the Managing Director of Tech Hacker. John is also the Strategic SEO and Influencer Marketing Manager of Softvire Australia - the leading software eCommerce company in Australia and Softvire New Zealand.

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