As the world gets even more tech savvy, keeping kids safe online is proving to be difficult at times and a multi-faceted task. With cases such as the ‘Momo Challenge’ making the rounds, it’s going to take more than passwords to keep children restricted and safe.
Now more than ever children go online at a rapid pace, parents can’t help but be concerned about safety issues when their kids are online. Too much screen time, potential exposure to strangers and inappropriate content are all dangers that can be avoided when the right security measures are put in place.
While most kids are just watching videos or playing games, other kids are potentially going to end up being exposed to something dangerous online, and you don’t want that kid to be yours. Teaching your kids to be safe online is something you need to do so they will know how to handle any type of situation they find themselves in online.
HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has put together some tips that will help keep your kids safe when they go online this holiday:
Being safe is always better than being sorry
This will work two ways for you and your kids: You must create strong passwords to protect your personal and sensitive information, and you must teach your kids the importance of creating strong passwords and never giving their passwords to anyone else. The Nokia 5.1 Plus, as well as the rest of the Nokia Android smartphone range, stays up-to-date with three years of monthly security patches and two years of guaranteed OS updates after launch, ensuring that your phone keeps getting better over time As with all Nokia smartphones in the Android One programme. Your passwords protect your accounts from hackers and cyber criminals, so it’s important to create a strong, unique password for each online account.
Do your research
Make sure that you take a look at your child’s browsing history. Ask plenty of questions and make sure you know who your child’s online friends are. You might even want to sit with your child to see what is going on. Show your child that going online isn’t an activity to do in private. Do some research on the sites that your child is visiting and look at the ratings. You might also want to see if the sites have parental control features.
Curiosity shouldn’t kill the cat
Most browsers and search engines allow parents to enable child safety features. These features help to prevent your child from getting access to sites that they shouldn’t see. Simple alternatives such us a Kiddle search engine as opposed to Google will ensure that your kids go down the right searching rabbit hole.
Lay down the law
Setting rules for when your child is using the Internet is important. Ensure that all devices are kept out of the bedroom and placed in a common room, this will help you keep an eye on your child. Come up with a plan that will work for your family; set firm time limits on Internet access to an hour or two a day
Keep all tabs open
Cyber bullying continues to be on the rise. According to Pew Research Centre girls are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying than boys. Overall around 36% of girls have reported being cyberbullied, as compared to 26% of boys. If your child is mistreated, bullied or harassed online they should feel comfortable and open enough to talk to you. To keep kids safe online, encourage open and honest communication. Always remind them that you want to help them, not punish them. If they’re mistreated online, they should let you know immediately so you can take the necessary steps to help them.
