How Can We Increase Kids’ Safety Online?

Do you remember how our parents told us not to talk to strangers? Not to hang out with the wrong crowd? Now as parents, we probably tell our kids the same things. But now we have a bigger challenge in today’s digital age.

It is so much harder to know who our kids are hanging out with online

Per a Pew Research Study, 60% of teens have been bullied online. Also, the Crimes Against Children Research Center reported slightly less than 10% o kids will receive unwanted sexual solicitation online. (USA)

Of course, we can’t expect to keep our kids off the internet forever. But the reality is that the longer our kids spend on their phone or devices, the more likely they are to encounter something or someone shady.

The longer kids spend online they develop the “disinhibition effect” -they become more comfortable online and less careful especially when they’re tired

How can we increase kid’s safety online?

1- Open communication

• Tell kids to trust their intuition if something doesn’t feel right
• Tell them to fight off pressure from people trying to convince them to do something they know is wrong
• Teach them to protect their personal information from others
• It’s never OK to meet strangers in real life

2- Know their apps

• Watch for apps that allow online chats with others: keep in mind that predators engage with their victims on messaging apps via text or livestreaming
• Teach them to report harmful content or behavior
• Help them learn the difference between their online and real-life friends

3- Manage their online time

• Use apps, devices or software that allow you to monitor and even set screen-time limits: some allow you to filter content

4- Know their friends

• Predators often catfish or pretend to be someone else
• Look at photos sent to your kids including their profile photos
• Beware of people who won’t video chat, give strange responses to questions or seem too good to be true

5- Mistakes happen

• tell your kids to inform you if accidentally sent someone an inappropriate message or if something inappropriate happened

6- Do what’s best for your family

• Some parents don’t allow kids to have tablets or phones while others allow phones but their kids have to check in their devices before bed
• Help your kids find balance and manage their time appropriately

7- Identify unusual behavior

• Be wary if your child suddenly becomes secretive about online usage, switches screens when you walk by, or uses sexual language that isn’t appropriate, etc.

Do you have any other tips for staying safe online? Share these tips.

LAMSA’s note: we would like to thank Dr Stella C. for her collaboration