7 Tips For Children To Use The Internet Safely
The Internet is a window to knowledge and fun. However, online dangers also abound, especially for children. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the smallest of the house to use the Internet safely and responsibly.
Internet: advantages and disadvantages
The Internet has become one of the greatest advances in society. It has completely changed the behavior of man and allowed him to easily connect with any part of the world. Infinite knowledge of our availability, better communication and guaranteed entertainment are some of the advantages of the network.
Although the Internet has revolutionized the world and has many advantages, it is also true that, handled incorrectly, it can put people, especially children, in a vulnerable situation.
Surfing the Internet safely is possible, as long as certain strategies are put into practice. Educating children and maintaining constant supervision are two of the keys to achieving safe navigation.
Strategies for Using the Internet Safely
1.- Educate
The first step before children enter the world of the Internet is to educate and talk to them. It is important that parents take charge of their children’s participation in the network.
In addition to explaining the dangers that may exist as often as necessary, they must also define the social networks and web pages allowed for navigation.
Generally, in social networks it is difficult to filter content; For this reason, it is advisable to define which are the most suitable for children to navigate.
Similarly, the accounts must be under the supervision of the parents, who must have access to them. This way you will be able to have greater control over which friends you accept or not on the network.
2.- Say “no” to strangers
This is a golden rule that parents should pass on to their children, because it is one of the biggest dangers on the web. On many occasions, there are unscrupulous people who pose as children or adolescents. They create fake profiles and are extremely detailed about their information.
To avoid this kind of danger, the most important thing is to talk to children about this topic. Explain that it doesn’t matter what the person looks like or if they have common interests; If you do not know it, you should not accept it under any circumstances.
3.- Configure unwanted content
Currently, there are different applications that allow parents to generate greater security for their children when browsing. These applications allow you to configure the web to block different pages.
With these tools it will be possible to prevent the child from having access to pages with sensitive or adult content. Importantly, they can also be configured on smartphones and other devices.
Keys to surf the Internet safely
Download a good antivirus
It is essential that all devices with access to the web have a good antivirus, which will serve to block certain types of threats. Children are prone to clicking misleading links that can lead them to undesirable and dangerous places.
Set a time limit
You should not only use the Internet safely, but also responsibly; certain pages can trap children for hours on end.
Parents must be involved and establish very clear rules and limits regarding the times and times of Internet use; the ideal is to encourage children to love other types of activities and sports.
Never give personal information
This point is one of the most important. It is essential that children learn to say no to strangers, as well as to never reveal sensitive information. This type of information includes home address, parent’s work, school, landline or mobile phone numbers.
Teach them to manage privacy
Finally, parents must teach their children to handle the different privacy filters than those of social networks. Another important aspect is not to place photographs that could reveal the place where you study or live. A good example is to post a photo where you can clearly see the school uniform with your name on it.
With these simple tips and continuous supervision, it is possible for children to use the Internet safely and responsibly. This can have a lot of influence on your education.
