Guidance for parents on keeping children safe whilst online
Using the internet, smart phones and online games are now a daily part of young people's lives. However, there are risks for children and parents need to know how to keep their children while using the internet. The internet can be of great benefit to your child, it can be a good source for their homework, projects and connecting with their friends and relatives oversea.
Children may mistakenly share personal information without understanding that they may be subject to identity theft, or take advantage to use their personal information by somebody with malicious intent. As children become more adventurous on internet they might also be exposed to inappropriate or unwanted articles. Children might also experience cyber bullying from social networking sites or other means of online messages.
What are the risks to children?
Accessing the internet and using smart/mobile devices can put children at risk of:
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seeing disturbing information, videos and photos
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being a possible victim of cyber bullying
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sharing personal information with strangers
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being a victim of identity theft
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sharing or receiving sexually photos, videos of themselves or others that may lead for sexual abuse
To help keep your child safe online:
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discuss to your child about the benefits of using internet and the possible dangers posed by the internet
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explain them what they should do if they become anxious or concerned on articles they see in the internet
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explain that anything shared online or by mobile phone could end up being seen by anyone and use their personal information without their consensus
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know what your child does in the internet and identify which websites they often visit
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Install web filtering software to block inappropriate site
Related Activites
For more information on what you can do as a parent, you might also like to visit below links and videos.
Know-IT-All: Information on benefits, risks and safety on the internet.
An introduction for parents and teachers: Online Gaming: An introduction for parents and teachers
Protect your family online: How you can protect your family online
A Common Sense Approach to Internet Safety
How to keep kids safe online
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