WWW: Internet safety for parents with children
Parents, your children might gain access to valuable resources by going online, but they also need to understand how to be safe surfers.
The expanse of the Internet can be useful, but also dangerous.
Parents, your children might gain access to valuable resources by going online, but they also need to understand how to be safe surfers.
Here’s our top tips for parents:
Learn the lingo – the more informed you are as a parent, the better. If you understand the ins and outs of social media and web surfing, you’ll know what to look out for. Another good tip is to learn ‘leetspeak’, the way younger generations speak in chat rooms and online in general.
Centralise the PC – if the computer is set in an area of the house where you can keep an eye out, your children will think twice about any suspicious behaviour.
Encourage discussion – get your children talking about their Internet usage. If they feel comfortable speaking to you, there’s less chance of any dodginess.
Protect your details – educate your children on the dangers of giving out information freely. Let them know why to never give out details like addresses and ID numbers without asking you first.
Safeguard the passwords – never keep a password or PIN number written down.
Avoid Internet friends – teach your children to never agree to face-to-face meetings with online friends. Predators use any means to their advantage, so be vigilant.
