How do I keep my children safe online?

The Internet is a fascinating world for the child – the ability to connect with other children on chat sites, the capability of apps to answer their obscure questions, the ability to play exciting online games as teams sitting at remote spots. Children may innocently discard online safety issues, not knowing anything much about viruses, online privacy, phishing, social networking etiquette and other internet safety concerns.

Security experts would tell you that if your child is using the Internet, you as a parent have a responsibility to ensure he plays safe. There are multiple ways to teach Internet safety to your child. You can install a kid’s tracker to monitor his cell phone activity to begin with.

Talk to them about online safety at an early age
It is important to start talking to your young one about Internet safety as soon as they start using the Internet. In the beginning, they may begin by using the computer in your presence. That would be the right time to explain to them that the online world is similar to the real world where good and bad exists. They should, therefore, use things like Internet passwords. As they grow older, you should teach them the importance of creating a strong password for each of their different accounts to avoid cyber attacks. Online safety, if taught at a young age, will go a long way.

Become contacts in your child’s social media
Children must only message and accept friend and contact requests from people they know. At their vulnerable age, they are keen to up their popularity score by increasing their friend circle. However they need to know that often people might pretend to be someone else and mask their real identity to enter the child’s “inner circle”. As a parent, you can ensure that you are a part of your child’s social media circles and monitor posts by cell phone monitoring.

Track your child’s online activity
A teen tracker app like Easy Logger will allow a parent to track the child’s online activities and observe who the child interacts with. This would allow parents to keep their children in check and prevent and mishaps. An alternative is to have an open communication between the parent and the child about the child’s online activities. Parents can have passwords to each social media account and let their children know they will be checking in from time to time.

Reiterate that the online world is a real one.
Children must be made to understand that everything they see online may not be true and should not get carried away with it. They should be taught that they shouldn’t venture in to do anything that they wouldn’t do in person. Children must be made aware that everything that goes online, stays there forever and may have its repercussions in the future.  In fact, many employers and university admissions offices look at social media profiles when researching candidates.