Make Sure Your Kids Are Safe Online

Last Updated on: 26th January 2022, 09:45 pm

Are Your Kids Are Safe Online?

Our children have adapted to the digital age quickly. And it seems increasingly normal to see toddlers walking around with iPads. As well as school children texting on their phones. The tech is here to stay, so it’s our job as parents to make sure our children are kept safe when using their electronic devices. Here are a few tips on how to make sure your kids are safe online. Especially when using their devices and what you can do if you feel uneasy about their device usage.

Configure your parental controls on both your child’s device and with your internet provider

First thing’s first, when you purchase a new device for your children, make sure you set up the parental controls in accordance with your child’s age. Apps such as YouTube Kids allow access to the website on your children’s devices. However, filters are in place to ensure your children can only access videos that are age-appropriate. Create content filters to block any inappropriate content such as pornography, violent videos and fake news on your devices. And contact your internet provider to place filters on your wifi.

Discuss the most important rules ahead of time

Before granting your children access to their devices. Make sure that you’ve discussed the importance of sticking to the rules you’ve agreed on. This point applies mostly to teenagers, but it is also important that younger children understand why restrictions are in place. And why they cannot do certain activities on their devices. For example, ensure that your children understand they shouldn’t share personal information with anyone they don’t know (eg. their address or name of the school they attend). Have a conversation about online grooming. And ensure your children know the red flags to look out for when talking to people online through their devices. 

Revisit These Topics Often

It’s not enough to just mention these rules once – consistency is key. So revisiting subjects regularly will help to reinforce just how important these rules are and why they’re in place.. Check in with your children regularly to see if they have been sticking to the rules and ask if they have any questions about the content filters you currently have in place. As your child ages, remember you’ll want to adjust the content filters on their devices so they can access more content.

Limit Screen Time

It is easy to lose track of time when using devices, especially for teenagers and younger children. Mindlessly scrolling through social media or playing games can take over your children’s lives, so make sure that screen time is limited and rules are in place to prevent excessive usage, such as keeping devices out of bedrooms in the evenings.

Look out for changes in behaviour

Social media is infamous for negatively affecting children and teenagers, so be sure to look out for any changes in behaviour. These could indicate serious issues, such as cyberbullying, eating disorders, anxiety, or depression. Apps such as Instagram are immensely popular among teens, however, it has been proven to have extremely adverse effects on self-esteem, particularly in teenage girls.