Essentials You Need To Know About Internet Safety For Kids

Allowing your child to have access to the entire Internet without restriction or supervision would be like setting them loose in the middle of Lagos. Not a good idea, and not a safe bet. And while the Internet can be the perfect place to watch harmless cat videos, research bottomless databases for school reports, and play games that educate and entertain them, it’s also a place where phishing, social network harassment, and scams abound. That’s why it’s up to you to educate your children about what’s safe and what’s not — and to know what to keep an eye on for yourself . Talk About Cyberbullying According to Wired Safety — a leading online safety, education, and help organization — cyberbullying begins to expand by age eight. And from there it reaches far and wide, with 43 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 reporting that they have experienced some sort of cyberbullying in the past year. Help your child learn how to deal with cyberbullies (and how to not become one) by having them “graduate” from the Carnegie Cyber Academy — an interactive educational tool developed by Carnegie Mellon University to teach proper Web etiquette and how to defend yourself from “Cyber Villains.” Set Limits No matter what age your child is, setting boundaries with the Internet is imperative. The types of websites your kids visit, the search engines they use, and the content they have access to should all play into the restrictions and limitations you set on your devices and through your Internet provid…