I’m in the middle of a series about How to Use Technology to Teach Your Child. I think it is very important that we use the resources we have to educate our children as best as possible. Since we have access to the internet, my children rarely go to the library or struggle to find enough information for their research papers.
Today, I want to address a very serious aspect of educating your children in regards to the internet. There are so many dangers lurking around in cyberspace, that it is vital that you teach your kids internet safety. Here are some things you should focus on when teaching your children about these dangers.
Do Not Friend Request or Follow People You Do Not Know
Regardless of the social media outlet, children need to stay away from people they do not know. Not only is it unsafe for a stranger to have access to their information, you have no idea what the user will post.
Many people post inappropriate pictures and other information on every social media outlet. It is best that your children only deal with people they know in real life.
Be Careful With Searches
Search engines are every parent’s worst nightmare when it comes to getting inappropriate pictures and information in front of your children. Even the most innocent search can bring up a world of results that your child doesn’t need to be confronted with.
Talk with your kids about the types of pictures they may run across and give them clear instructions of how they should handle it. I’ve found that this is a real problem on social media outlets as well.
Even if you have filters, that won’t keep your child from seeing pornographic pictures on Instagram. There are so many users out there that are posting things that you wouldn’t believe. Teach your child to stay away from certain hashtags.
Help Them Identify Click Bait
Don’t you just hate click bait? I know I do, but I’ve learned what types of links are not worth my time. I also know which links look suspicious.
It will take time for you to teach your child what types of websites and links to avoid. The titles and thumbnails are designed to peak interest. As an adult, we can sniff out those spammy links, but children need a lot more guidance.
Children are much more vulnerable to marketing ploys and tactics than we are. Their innocent nature makes them believe everything they read. It is important to teach them skepticism.
These are a few ways in which you can teach your children internet safety. You should be checking in on their browsing history from time to time. This will help you to catch problems before they start. You should also teach your child what types of websites and links to avoid.
It is also a good idea that while your kids are still young, that you go in and check on their social media profiles. You should be friend with your child as well as check in on their account internally.
With the advances of today comes a lot of convenience and a lot of danger. Be sure you warn your children about things they may come up against online.
