How to keep your child safe online |07 May 2022
Online tools let you control your kids' access to adult material and help protect them from Internet predators. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) provide parent-control options. The second option is to do your own research on the different software that can help to block access to adult-rated sites or programs and restrict personal information, monitor and track online activity. Some easy steps you can take to ensure online safety include:
1) Install SafeSearch filters features on Google that can block sites that offer sexual materials.
2) Set parental controls on Google Play that will monitor what games/programs your child is downloading.
3) Take time to set up games and other software on your child’s devices, instead of leaving them to do it themselves. There are many settings, especially privacy settings on online apps and games that are recommended for children and for your own safety.
4) Remove geo-tagging features, which make your whereabouts public and help someone to easily locate where you are at any time. These features should be turned off for obvious privacy and safety reasons.
5) Digital photos also contain metadata (information about the time, date and GPS coordinates) which may reveal more information about you and your family than you would have liked.
For younger children, it is best to monitor them whilst they are playing on their devices. Use passwords on software that you do not want them to have access to. On mobile devices, use forget passwords to prevent children from going online on other devices, without you knowing.
Getting involved in kids' online activities
Try as you might, you will never be able to block completely every adult content found online. However, what you can do is to teach your child the different ways they can stay safe online and how they should behave online whilst continuing to monitor their internet use.
Before giving your child an electronic device, consider the following:
•Who will pay for airtime and mobile data?
•Are there restrictions on phone use? When?
•What happens if your child breaks the phone?
•Will your child have access to free Wi-Fi?
•Will you have access to your child’s phone and for what purpose?
Basic guidelines to share with your kids for safe online use:
Teach your child to stay in control of their digital footprint, by only sharing with people who they know and trust. Rather than posting to all their friends on social media, encourage them to be selective and use the privacy settings on the social media platforms they use.
Help your child to learn how to keep personal information private, especially from strangers – some people are not who they say they are! Remind your children that what goes online stays online. You are not being overly protective if you send your child a friend request.
If your child uses social networks, be sure they know how to:
- Report inappropriate and/or offensive posts
- Block someone
- Keep information private.
Other basic rules you should consider discussing with your child include:
•Follow the family rules, and those set by the Internet service provider.
•Never post or trade personal pictures.
•Never reveal personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name or location.
•Use only a screen name and do not share passwords (other than with parents).
•Never agree to get together in person with anyone you meet online without parent approval and/or supervision.
•Never respond to a threatening email, message, post, or text.
•Always tell a parent or other trusted adult about any communication or conversation that was scary or hurtful.
•Teach them about online bullying.
Basic guidelines for parental supervision:
•Spend time online together to teach your kids appropriate online behaviour.
•Monitor any time spent on smartphones or tablets.
•Bookmark your child’s favourite sites for easy access.
•Always check the history of your child’s activity online to monitor (not to spy) if they are being targeted or are themselves finding ways to access adult content.
•Take your child seriously, if he or she reports an uncomfortable online exchange.
Lead by example:
•As an adult, you should always be cautious and respectable online. Be aware of the type of photos and comments you make on social media. On the other hand, remind your child of the benefits of the internet when it is used appropriately.
Contributed by National Council for Children (NCC), Bel Eau, Mahe on 4283900 or Horizon Complex, Baie Ste Anne, on 4236091/ Email yumarji@gov.sc.
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Temwanyaz en paran avek en garson 17-an
Mon ti donn mon zanfan en telefonn letan i ti ganny 15-an. Avan sa, si i ti bezwen ‘call’ ouswa ‘text’ son dalon, i ti servi mon telefonn.
Enn bann kondisyondonn li en telefonn se ki si i kase mon pa pou rod en lot. Alor i pran byen ka avek. Dezyenm kondisyon se ki mon kapab nenport ler gete ki i pe fer lo la. I ti bezwen demann mwan pour li al lo bann pazsosyal, e anplis i ti bezwen azout mwan konman enn son ‘friends’. Ziska prezan tou i mars byen.
Vi ki i gran, mon servi sa telefonn pou aplik mon disiplin osi. Pour met larzan lo la i bezwen balye e netway dan lari tou le Sanmdi. Menm si i annan Wifi dan lakour i napa akse avek osi. I servi son allowance pour met larzan lo la.
Mon pran telefonn si i ganny pini akoz i tro gran pour mwan anvoy li dan son lasanm. Mon kontinyen ‘monitor’ li lo telefonn. Tanzantan mon demann li kestyon ki i pe fer e ki’n arive.
Ti en bon desizyon pou mwan esper sa laz akoz i pran ka avek sa telefonn. I konnen ki sa telefonn mon kapab pran nenport ler e ki i annan bann danze si i pa vey li byen ler i pe zwe‘game’ ouswa lo medyasosyal.