When most people think of childhood, they think of carefree days playing with friends, and exploring the world around them without a worry in the world. According to a recent study, 1 in 5 children will be approached by a sexual predator while on their way to or from school. This means that statistically speaking, your child could be one of those children.
While it is impossible to keep our children cooped up inside and away from harm’s way 100% of the time, there are things we can do to help protect them. One such precaution is talking to our kids about sexual predators. It is important that they know what to look for and how to stay safe if they are ever approached by someone they don’t know or feel uncomfortable around.
How you can keep your family safe from cyber threats
There are a lot of discussions these days about the dangers of the internet, and its effects on health, and for good reason. The internet can be a wonderful resource, but it can also be a place where criminals lurk, ready to exploit innocent victims.
One particularly dangerous threat to families is online predators. These are criminals who use the internet to find and groom vulnerable children for sexual abuse or exploitation. Fortunately, there are steps families can take to protect their children from online predators.
One of the most important things parents can do is talk to their children about online safety. They need to educate their kids about the dangers of talking to strangers online, sharing personal information, and meeting someone they’ve only talked to online.
Parents should also monitor their children’s internet usage, keeping an eye on which websites they visit and whom they’re talking to.
Install parental controls on all devices
Most parents would agree that installing parental controls on all devices in their home is a necessity. It can be difficult to keep track of what your child is doing online. It is even more difficult to monitor their activity if you don’t have access to the device. Parental controls help to restrict access to certain websites and apps, as well as monitor online activity.
There are a variety of parental control options available, depending on the type of device. For example, Apple has a built-in parental control called “Screen Time” that can be used on iPhones and iPads. Android also has a number of parental control options, such as “Family Link” from Google.
There are also a number of third-party parental control apps that can be installed on smartphones, laptops, and other devices. A password manager, such as 1Password, LastPass, or Dashlane, is a good way to manage passwords. It can be used to store, generate and manage passwords for different services.
Teach your kids to share our social web safely
Parents have the responsibility to educate their children about how to stay safe online. The first step is to create a family agreement about internet use. You and your children should agree on what is appropriate behavior online and what is not.
Establish rules for using the internet, such as never giving out personal information or meeting someone in person who you only know from the internet. Teach your children how to recognize scams and phishing attempts.
Show them how to use privacy settings on social media sites and how to set up strong passwords. Explain the dangers of cyberbullying and sexting. Make sure your children know how to report these behaviors if they occur.
Verify that websites are safe before you allow your children to visit them
Most parents would never knowingly allow their children to visit a website that is unsafe, but what qualifies as safe may not be immediately obvious. It is important for parents to take the time to verify that a website is safe before allowing their children to visit, as there are many websites that pose a threat.
One way to check if a website is safe is to look for the lock icon in the address bar. Make sure it is secure. Another way to ensure safety is to check the website’s privacy policy and read reviews from other parents.
Encourage your children to speak about what they are doing online
Children and adolescents are spending more time than ever before online. While there are many positive aspects to online activity, there are also some risks that parents should be aware of and talk to their children about.
Parents should also check their children’s online activity for inappropriate content and discuss any concerns with them. In addition, parents can limit their children’s access to social media sites that allow for interaction between users on the site.
Keep your computer in a central part of your house
Computers are a great source of entertainment and productivity. But when they’re used in the wrong way or in the wrong place, they can be a major distraction. It’s important to keep your computer in a common area of the house where it can be easily accessed, rather than in your bedroom or office.
Monitor your child’s online activity
As a parent, it is important to be aware of the websites your child is visiting and the activities they are participating in online. Many websites are not appropriate for children and can include content that is inappropriate or even dangerous.
Tools are available to help you monitor your child’s online activity. These are software that tracks their internet usage and parental controls that can be set up on browsers and devices. It is also important to talk to your child about staying safe online and what to do if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable.
By being proactive and using the tools available to you, you can help keep your child safe online.
