Kids are spending more time on the Internet than ever. On one hand, they have access to a lot of information which can help with their homework, provide entertainment and improve their overall computer skills. However, children could also stumble upon inappropriate content. Check out this article for some useful tips that will help you keep your child safe online. 

The Internet puts information at your child’s fingertips. Children are spending a growing amount of time online from a young age. Parents are contributing to their children’s digital lives as well – a lot of parents share photos of their toddlers or kids on social networks, in their efforts to keep in touch with members of the extended family. It’s normal for children to be curious about how the Internet works and how they can use it to play games, research homework, and chat with their friends.

Unfortunately, spending a lot of time online can also be potentially dangerous for children. They could be subjected to inappropriate content, get in touch with suspicious individuals, or even purchase goods without even realizing it. Explaining to your kids the basics about internet safety and supervising them while they browse the Internet is extremely important. According to GuardChild, only 15% of parents are “in the know” about their kids’ social networking habits. Educating yourself on topics of internet safety is the first step towards ensuring that you can fully comprehend and supervise your child’s online shenanigans.

In order to understand what you are dealing with, here are some worrying statistics, courtesy of GuardChild:

• the FBI reports a 2000-percent increase in the number of child pornography images on the internet since 1996;
• 20 percent of all Internet pornography involves children, with more than 20,000 new images posted weekly;
• 12 percent of tweens have already been bullied by someone online;
• 96 percent of teens use social networking applications such as Facebook, MySpace, Chat rooms, and blogs.

This being said, we are in no way encouraging you to forbid your child from accessing the Internet. If you restrict kids from going online, it’s likely their curiosity will increase even more. Not to mention the fact that they might be able to surf the web from school or from friends’ homes. It’s better to allow them to spend supervised time online and encourage them to talk to you in case they stumble upon anything disturbing. In order to make it easier for you, we’ve compiled a short guide of tips which will make your job as a vigilant parent easier, at least when it comes to Internet safety.

You Kid’s First E-mail Account

Even though children usually start using the Internet for games, there will come a time when they will want to keep in touch with friends and other family members via email. And this time could come sooner than you might thing – around first or second grade, once their reading and writing skills improve.  If this is the case, a good idea would be to sign them up for special email services for kids, which allow you to supervise what kind of messages your child sends and receives. Keep in mind that by having their own email address kids will be able to sign up for different sites or social networks without your consent.

When your children first express their interest in email, sit them down and ask them what they want to use it for. Make sure they understand how important it is to not share their personal password with anyone, how clicking on suspicious links is strictly forbidden and how they should tell you every time someone they don’t know tries to contact them. By establishing an open line of communication from early you let your kid know that you encourage them to expand their horizons and that you have their back at the same time.

Parental Controls

Setting up parental controls for web surfing is a wise choice – they prevent kids from accessing potentially dangerous websites and help you monitor the files they download. However, even the best filter may accidentally give your child access to inappropriate materials, not to mention the fact that kids these days are often smart enough to find ways around the blocks you’ve set up.

Choosing a kid-friendly browser can be a good short-term investment. These browsers usually offer a selection of appropriate content including videos and games. Some use a search filter that will return only safe results, while others provide a closed environment with no access to the wider Internet. Either way, a good idea would be to sit by your child while he or she is online. Only allow them to access the internet between certain hours, in your presence, and keep the computer in the living room so you can supervise them more easily.

Social Networks

You can’t sign up for Facebook until you are 13, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use a fake birthday and do it anyway. Facebook and social networks in general can represent a big attraction for kids. If you allow your children to use them, set their privacy options to the strictest levels and encourage them not to befriend or connect with anyone they don’t already know in real life.

Additionally, you should explain your kids that everything they decide to post online stays on the Internet forever, and that they should post only information they are comfortable with everyone seeing. Teach them how to be respectful of social networks and how to always keep their address, telephone number, and social security number to themselves.

Smartphone Use

Children learn how to use smartphones from an early age. You might want to buy them one for convenience – after all, when an emergency occurs, a phone can be crucial if your child needs to reach you. Nonetheless, ask him or her to always run apps they want to download by you for your approval. This way, you can make sure that the app is safe and made by a reputable developer.

Furthermore, you should turn off the in-app purchases feature on your kid’s smartphone. In-app purchases can be confusing to kids, and many free apps offer players the option to spend real money on things used in the game. Find out more about in-app purchases here and here.

Internet safety isn’t just about protecting your kids from danger – it’s also about teaching them how to use the Internet in a positive and productive way. The more time they spend online, the more they can read, play, and interact. Make sure these experiences will have a good influence on the child’s development. By getting involved in your kids' online life and supervising their online activities, you will help them reap the benefits on the Internet, while simultaneously minimizing the negatives.