Parents used to warn their children to stay offline. Playing on computers with internet access was a privilege reserved for older children or teens. This reservation is no longer the case in most places. The popularity of the internet redefined society to a large extent.

Technology is everywhere we turn—there are even smart devices targeted at young kids and toddlers! In a world where keeping kids away from the internet is impractical, it’s crucial to sit down with children and talk to them about internet safety.

Is the Internet Dangerous?

The internet is a fantastic resource that offers different things for people of all ages. It’s an excellent education tool and provides all sorts of entertainment. The internet offers the perfect features for going to school, learning new skills, playing games, or connecting with friends. Unfortunately, this valuable tool has a dark side.

Just as there are many great things about the internet, there are people with sinister intentions looking to prey upon vulnerable individuals (especially children). Scams are rife and social media sites may be full of predators.

child on computer

Some con artists aim to steal information from naïve children who would gladly hand over their data or use their parent’s payment information.

Children are also especially susceptible to falling for scams that threaten them. We may think it’s almost humorous that a pop-up tells us we will go to jail unless we enter credit card details—but children may panic and fall for it out of fear of getting in trouble.

Of course, predators are a parent's worst nightmare. Online predators sometimes try to lure children with fake profiles or outlandish promises. In extreme cases, these scenarios have devastating consequences.

Avoiding the internet altogether is hardly an option in modern times. Many benefits make the internet worth the risk.

Luckily, the dangers of the internet are mostly avoidable. Teaching kids about internet safety allows them to use the internet confidently and securely.

Essential Things to Teach Children

Instead of using scare tactics and instructing kids to always do what you say (which might lead to them doing the opposite!), take a friendly approach, creating a healthy environment where children feel comfortable to chat about concerns. Offer explanations for your rules, so they understand why it is essential to follow them.

So what do you need to advise your kids to do in order to stay safe online?

Don’t Talk to Strangers

internet class

People are often not who they seem. Encourage them to interact with people they know in real life rather than reach out (or answer) strangers online. Gaming platforms and social media sites have both bots and people pretending to be someone they are not.

Explain how they sometimes try to scam strangers online or infect devices with viruses. They need to recognize when a seemingly harmless interaction becomes dangerous. Under no circumstances should they meet strangers in person.

Never Download Without Permission

Downloading suspicious files or clicking unknown links can compromise your information. Explain that these downloads are how scammers steal data and slow down or break devices.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, so certainly don’t trust online strangers offering free games or movies.

Stick to Websites and Apps You Know

While learning how to navigate the internet is essential, they should stick to a predetermined list of websites and apps for younger kids.

If children want to explore other things or expand their list, they should consult an adult who can investigate the service beforehand. Look out for sites full of illegal content or ones that have a wealth of ads and pop-ups.

Never Give Sites Sensitive Information

Keeping information secure is essential. Explain to your children why they should never give information out, whether that be yours or theirs. You’d be surprised by how much sensitive data devices store, especially when family members share them.

Related: Online Photos and Personal Privacy—What to Check Before You Upload

Teach kids to get your permission when they create a new account, and supervise them doing it. This way, you know what information they are giving out and may identify suspicious questions.

Tell Someone About Suspicious Activity

Adults with a lot of experience with technology may find it easier to detect suspicious sites or activities. For this reason, you must encourage children to come to you with any problems. It often saves a lot of grief from what could happen if children panic and try to cover it all up.

What Else Can Parents Do to Keep Their Children Safe?

parental supervision

There are several different techniques and tools for parents to refer to when encouraging internet safety. Keep in mind that this advice is age-appropriate, and a teenager may not respond well to the lack of privacy or child-oriented media.

Install Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is a good idea for any internet user, whatever their age. While this doesn’t mean you can surf the internet with no problems, it helps cut back on a lot of online threats. Many computers come with their own defense software, like Windows Defender most notably, so make sure to turn it on.

Swap Google for Kidtopia

It isn’t easy to completely control where an internet search takes you. When a youngster conducts online research (for assignments or for fun), suggest they use a child-friendly search engine like Kidtopia.

It adds an extra layer of filtering that outperforms Google’s safe search feature.

Implement Parental Controls

Parents can implement controls on devices themselves (from smartphones to iPads). Different software offers different features. Some help control which sites children have access to. Others provide additional features like limiting screen time to specific durations or periods.

There are some parental spyware options, but these are controversial and often disrupt a child’s privacy, which may be counter-productive.

Can You Trust Children Online?

The internet is a vast ocean of opportunities and dangers. Although children are vulnerable to cyber threats, taking steps to ensure their safety helps them take advantage of the wonders the internet has to offer while addressing the risks.

Incorporating safety software and teaching kids about online dangers gives them all the tools they need to search securely.