WAYS OF PROTECTING CHILDREN ONLINE

Being connected helps girls, boys and adolescents to learn, entertain themselves and be connected with the outside world. At the same time, it represents new challenges for mothers and fathers. How to maximize the opportunities offered by the Internet and at the same time minimize the risks online? If it is no longer easy to maintain that balance on any given day, these days of isolation can get a little more complicated.

We can all be proactive mediators, mitigate risks and enhance online opportunities for girls, boys and adolescents. That is why we share 5 recommendations for fathers, mothers and caregivers who want to keep their children safe while they are connected.

Let’s see these ways and learn how to protect our child:

Keep communication open

Building trusting relationships and open communication, encouraging and encouraging them to engage in positive ways with technology helps keep your children safe. A sincere dialogue with children and adolescents about the activities they carry out on the Internet and the situations that arise there, fosters spaces of freedom in the use of the Internet based on trust and respect, and allows accompanying them in a timely manner in such a way that they feel supported to act freely, make decisions and ask for help if necessary.

Tell your children that if something happens to them online that makes them feel sad, scared or confused or when they have taken an unsafe action on the Internet, they can talk to you or another trusted adult who can help them find solutions. 

It promotes spaces to explain the forms that risks take on the Internet; when they have been exposed to unwanted and inappropriate content or when they participate in risky communication. Also, make sure they understand the value of friendly and supportive interactions, and that discriminatory or aggressive contact is unacceptable. Familiarize yourself with online risks on the School of Influencers digital platform.

Likewise, you should be alert to any signs of distress. Observe if your son or daughter is withdrawn, upset, reserved, or worried during screen activities. This could be a sign that you are experiencing online bullying.

Use the same technology to ensure your safety

There are a series of technological solutions that allow you to protect your children online, such as configuring parental controls, technical actions that allow you to control what content your son or daughter can see and have a total security over internet. Combined with the "Safe Search" safe search filter in your browser, it can help you protect your children from the things they shouldn't see or experience online. Covers web cameras when not in use.

Teach your children to adjust the security measures of their favorite social networks to help them protect their identity and private information, especially from strangers. Use strong passwords, configure alerts for unrecognized logins, do not accept friend requests from strangers, and report false accounts and inappropriate or harmful content.

But remember, controlling the use of technology controls are useful tools, but they are not 100% effective. It's really important to teach your child skills like critical thinking and conflict resolution, so they know what to do if they are faced with a risk online.

Block, report and denounce situations that affect children and adolescents

Talk to your children about how to block, report and report content that bothers or worries them, if the messages they receive go from friendly to threatening, or what to do if they find out that someone is bullying a friend at school.

Every social media platform includes simple options to block, mute, or report something that makes you feel bad or upset.

Use internet security that will stop you from going to unauthorized sites or sites you have blocked, and will keep on tracking your activity and will protect you from all the threats.

Promote healthy and safe online habits

Involve your children in spaces and free times of technology. Now that girls and boys are at home all the time, establishing a family routine will facilitate daily activities and responsible use of the Internet.

Encourage your children to be kind and respectful in the digital world, not to spread rumors or share stories or photos that could hurt or embarrass another person; and remind them that what may seem like a harmless joke to one person may be deeply hurt by another. Help your sons and daughters control their privacy settings to protect their personal information. Teach them that everything they post online, from social media comments to videos, is our cover letter and can no longer be considered private materials.

Create agreements on the use of the Internet from the dialogue, avoiding falling into the prohibition, you can agree to the use of the Internet and improve the quality of the time you share as a family.

Leading by example is also a key element. The behavior of parents regarding their own electronic devices becomes a model for their children. Both the time you spend connected, as well as the content and the use you make of them, will be an example that children and adolescents will imitate regarding their own behaviors and uses online.

Spend time connected with your sons and daughters

Create activities for your child to enjoy positive and safe interactions with friends, family and with you. At this time, connecting with other people is more important than ever and can be an excellent opportunity to form a model of brotherhood and empathy in virtual interactions.

Help your children to recognize and avoid erroneous information and inappropriate content for their age that may increase their anxiety.

Explore appropriate apps, games, websites, and social media together. If you don't know how to use an app, your child can teach you. Internet is a tool to bring different generations closer together, it is a space for everyone.