Now that the school year has come to a close, your kids are going to have a lot more free time on their hands. You teach your kids a lot of things throughout their lives, but one of the most important things to teach them, these days, is how to be safe online.
The cyber world is full of cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online predators, and cyber criminals and it’s important for both parents and kids to know how to stay away and to stay safe.
Use these safety tips to keep your children safe online this summer:
Don’t share too much information
Sit down with your children and create a list of things that they should never post online such as their birthday, full name, address, and phone number. ake sure they understand why these things should be kept private.
Set a time limit for how long they can use devices during the day. Suggest using their devices in front of you rather than alone, locked up in their room so you can keep an eye on them.
Be careful about what you post
Nothing on the internet is private. Once you post a picture or video, you are no longer in control of how others use it and it will never be permanently deleted. Teach your kids to be cautious about what they are posting and sharing on the internet.
Only connect with people you know
We have always heard the phrase “stranger danger” and that couldn’t be more accurate and is a good rule to teach your kids. Online predators can easily create fake profiles to hide their identities, so make sure your kids are only connecting with people that they know in real life. Check your children’s privacy settings to make sure strangers can’t see their profiles.
Talk to your kids about what cyberbullying is
Cyberbullying is a huge issue in today’s society. Understanding what it is and the signs to look for will help your child avoid cyberbullying.
Most apps, networks or devices have features that can broadcast your location even without your knowledge. This information could lead predators to your home, so make sure these features are off on the devices that your children are using.
Protect your passwords
Show your kids how to create strong passwords and that they know to never share their passwords with anyone unless it is a parent or a trusted adult.
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