Beyond academic connections and family video conferences, the Internet can be a dangerous place for minors. For this reason, we must know the main threats that exist on the Internet and implement the necessary measures to reinforce Internet safety for children.
WHAT ARE THE THREATS ON THE INTERNET FOR CHILDREN?
The dangers that most children face when surfing the internet can be grouped into three types of risks:
· Exposure to inappropriate content. Vulgar language, hate speech and violent images can have a detrimental effect on minors. More than 55% of children between the ages of 10 and 12 have been exposed to violent content on the Internet and almost 60% have encountered sexually explicit material.
· Cyber bullying. Cyberbullying is any intimidating activity carried out through any type of electronic communication (social networks, e-mail, etc.). Almost 34% of 12-17 year olds have experienced Cyberbullying at some point in their life.
· Online predators: Adults who use the Internet to attract minors for abusive purposes are considered online predators. Most of the victims of this type of bullying (78%) are girls.
INTERNET SAFETY TIPS FOR CHILDREN IN THE FACE OF INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT
The best way to keep children safe from exposure to inappropriate content is to teach them to protect themselves and take some preventive measures:
· Teach them to navigate safely. Make sure your kids know how to identify safe pages and block pop-up ads. Explain how to keep their mail safe, warning them not to open attachments or reply to messages from strangers.
· Limit their access to inappropriate content. Use a content filter, block all unsafe websites and hire a cybersecurity service that protects your digital life and that of your family with an advanced parental control system. Prepare to react. Develop a plan to put in place in case your child encounters any type of inappropriate content, preparing the appropriate responses to help him handle the situation.
How to protect minors from Cyberbullying
To protect your kids from cyber bullying, keep the following tips in mind:
· Teach them to spot danger and ask for help. Explain what Cyberbullying is and give them tools to detect it. Talk to them about what types of communication are acceptable and encourage them to ask for help with any interaction that makes them feel bad. Monitor their activity. Put your computer in a common space, use a shared email account, and if you let your kids interact on social media, make sure you have access to their accounts.
· Set limits. Explain to them what the risks of chatting and social media are and always follow the age restrictions. If you allow them to use these applications, put a time limit and establish rules of use.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME A CYBER-SAFE PLACE
If you want to strengthen Internet security for your children, the cybersecurity service, which includes the ADT Alarm , has all the tools to transform your home into a cyber-safe place for your children: from an advanced parental control system to certification tools electronic for cases of digital violence.
In addition, the ADT Alarm includes the ADT Plus Protection service, in collaboration with Legálitas, to advise you and solve any legal aspect related to the safety of your family, Cyberbullying or online predators, and the protection of your home.
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