As a mum of three, I’m always trying to keep track of what my children are doing, including how they are using the internet and the various social media apps but how can we be assured that what they are doing is safe?
There are so many stories in the news currently discussing the downfalls and what can be the dark side of the internet and I strongly believe the best way to approach this subject as a parent is to find out as much as you can about it so you can be assured that your children are using the internet in a fun safe way.
Learning together with your children can be a great way of understanding what you are comfortable with and also ensure that you are both clear on where your boundaries are with sites you are happy for them to go on and the amount of time spent on screen time. But where and how do we even start?
Jake Moore, Cyber Security Specialist from Eset UK
‘Internet threats are constantly evolving so advancing in security for all ages is paramount to a safer online experience. Whilst cyber crime makes the news on a daily basis from password breaches to rouge mobile apps, we all need to up our awareness on all aspects of internet safety.
Teaching children about a safer online experience can be daunting for some parents who may feel like they are back in the classroom themselves but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Learning together about cyber security from such areas as better password management to using anti virus can be a fun experience with the amount of fantastic material out there. From interactive videos and enjoyable apps to increase education, it’s definitely best for parents and children to work together and communicate about the dangers but without scaring them.
Changing culture is one of the more challenging aspects in cyber security but starting with a fresh generation of eager children will make our future far more aware of the threats and in turn make us all better protected.’
The good news is that help and guidance is out there if you’re not sure where to begin and sites like Internet Matters and Get Safe Online can really help.
It’s also really important to speak to your fellow parents, friend groups tend to match behaviours so having some awareness within peer groups can really help.
Did you know….
- 1 in 3 12 to 15-year-olds may be in contact with people they don’t know on their social networking site profile
- 44% of children aged 10 to 13 use social networking sites
- 33% of children aged 12-15 say their favourite online activity is chatting with friends
Source: InternetMatters.org
We don’t have to know all the answers straight away but by understanding some more about what is out there we can make sure our children’s time online is safe and fun!
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