Helpful Ideas To Keep Children Safe On The Internet
Have you ever heard of Cyber Bullying? There are lots of risks facing children on the Internet these days, and you may not even be aware of what your child is up to. Children who suffer from cyber bullying tend to never tell their parents.
Often, if a child is victimized over the Internet he may develop a strong social anxiety or even risk falling into a deep depression.
Here are some helpful tips to help parents protect their children online:
1) Explain the risks of making friends with strangers online. We often forget that "strangers" exist on the Internet too. Cyber predators and other people who are up to no good can be much more anonymous online.
2) Advise children to refuse requests by strangers, especially those a lot older than they are who try to befriend them on social networking sites.
3) Make sure your child understands that it is safe to report any online bullying or stalking to you. They may otherwise hesitate out of embarrassment or fear. It's important for your child to see you as a trusted adviser.
4) Monitor Internet Use. Parents should take an active supervisory role when it comes to their children's use of the Internet. Knowing what sites children frequent will alert parents to potential problems or issues their children may be having at home or in school. The sharing of compromising pictures or of inappropriate information should also be monitored as these may be used against the children in the future by unscrupulous or cruel individuals who happen to get access to them.
Lots of parents may try to monitor their kids Internet activities, but sometimes they don't have the time or the tech-savvy knowledge required. This is where a service such as SafetyWeb can come in handy. This service offers parents a window into their kids social media use.
Remember that the first step to keeping your kids safe is to actually understand the risks of the Internet.
For more information about online safety for children and parents, read: SafetyWeb. Also visit our website: Great Parenting Website.