Last updated:Nov 14, 2024 09:28 IST
As the Internet becomes more accessible, parents should take proactive steps to educate their children about online safety.
Children’s Day 2024: It is equally important to teach your child about online privacy. (Image: Shutterstock)
November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day in India. This special occasion marks the birth anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He is fondly called “Chacha Nehru” and was deeply concerned with the welfare, education and welfare of children. As we celebrate this special occasion, it’s a good time to also emphasize the importance of online safety for children.
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As the Internet becomes more accessible, parents should take proactive steps to educate their children about online safety. Setting clear rules and guidelines can help protect children in the digital world. This children’s day, we’ll give you some essential tips to ensure your children stay safe in the digital world.
Set clear online rules
As children grow, the Internet becomes an invaluable resource not only for schoolwork but also for exploring new ideas. It is essential to set clear ground rules about the sites they can access and what activities online are appropriate.
Additionally, setting time limits for internet use helps maintain a healthy balance between screen time and other activities. Encourage children to use only trusted educational sites.
Parental controls
Some websites and online content may not be appropriate for your child’s age. Parental control features allow you to filter and control what they have access to. To ensure a safer online experience for your child, enable age-appropriate settings on apps, games, and social media platforms. This simple step helps keep their online interactions within safe boundaries.
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Privacy and passwords
It is equally important to teach your child about online privacy. Explain the risks of sharing personal information, such as their address, school name or phone number, and help them understand why this information should never be shared online.
Encourage them to create strong passwords and make sure they know how to protect their personal information to stay safe in the digital world.
Discuss cyberbullying
Discussing cyberbullying with your child is essential in today’s digital age. It is important for every parent to help children recognize and understand what cyberbullying looks like.
Encourage open communication so they feel safe to speak up if they experience or see inappropriate behavior online. Remind them that they should never feel the need to hide or be afraid when they receive threats or hurtful messages.
The first and most important step is to report such incidents. Also, don’t forget to reassure them that they won’t get into trouble if they report problems online.
Avoid talking to strangers
Some sites and games allow children to come into contact with people they don’t know, but it’s important to explain why this can be risky. Let your child know that online chats, comment sections, and private messages may include people who are not who they say they are.
These strangers may try to obtain personal information by pretending to be friendly. Teach them not to share information such as their name, address or school as this can be unsafe for both them and their family.
Recognize scams
Online scams are common and it is important to help children recognize and avoid them. If your child is new to the Internet, monitor his/her activities closely and remind him/her never to use your cards for online purchases or to share OTPs on any website.
Encourage them to ask for help with online payments or when they see something suspicious. Teach them to avoid clicking on unknown links, which can often be a pitfall. This awareness will keep them safer online.