Internet safety is becoming more and more important as the years go by. We’re all becoming too reliant on the internet for most of our daily activities – looking for information, ordering food or items on Amazon or eBay, hailing a ride, or communicating with loved ones or workmates. For kids, the internet plays an important role in their education and entertainment as they grow up. However, even though the internet provides such convenience and accessibility, the number of cyber criminals who exploit children and unsuspecting users is also on the rise. As we all know, for kids who may not yet have the experience to spot these dangers, the risks are even higher.
So if you’re wondering how you can teach your kids about internet safety, no worries, as we have some tips for you. It doesn’t really matter if you have fibre, DSL, or satellite internet — the same safety principles apply no matter how you connect. Teaching kids about internet safety is easy and even enjoyable if you approach it with the right mindset. Here’s what you can do:
Explain the Basics
As an adult, you already know the internet’s good and bad parts. You must be able to teach them all the basics of the internet in a way they’d understand. Of course, you wouldn’t use terms that are too complicated or technical, like “encryption” or “phishing,” because those can confuse kids. Instead, keep it simple by telling them the internet is a huge place where people share things, play, and talk – but not all of it is safe.
You can say it’s like your neighbourhood. There are fun spots like the park but there are also places they shouldn’t go alone. You must also teach the basics depending on the activity they want to do, for example, TV streaming or gaming.
Teach About Private Information
Kids wouldn’t know which information is private unless you tell them. So the first thing you must do is let them know what can and cannot be shared online. Explain that things like their full name, home address, phone number, and the name of their school are private and should never be given out on the internet.
To help them remember, you can ask them simple questions like, “If someone asks you for your phone number, what do you do?” or “If someone asks you to tell them where you live, would you tell them?”. Over time, it’ll grow on them and become a habit of keeping their personal info safe.
Show How to Spot Tricks
Cybercriminals love to trick people with fake messages or offers, and kids need to know what to watch out for. Tell them some things online like “You won a free toy!” or random pop-up ads might not be real and could hurt their device or steal info. You must base your example on the age of your kid. So for example, if they’re at the right age to look for products or internet deals, show them step-by-step on how they must do this. For example, type in Boost Infinite deals, browse through the pages, and point out what’s legit like the official Boost Infinite site with a clean layout, and what’s not, like a random page with tons of ads or typos.
Encourage Open Communication
Kids might hesitate to speak up if something weird happens online, so make it easy for them. Tell them they won’t get in trouble for showing you anything strange, like a mean message or a scary picture. Say they should come to you right away if they feel worried or confused about something they see. Every now and then, ask casually, “Anything funny happen online today?” This builds trust so they’ll turn to you instead of trying to handle problems alone.
Teaching your kids internet safety is simple and extremely doable, as long as you know where to start and you build the right foundation from the start. You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Just start from the basics and work through the rest as they grow more comfortable. With your help, they’ll pick up the skills to stay safe online as they grow older.
