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Kids and families are spending more time online than ever before. The internet can be a truly valuable resource for kids, as it provides educational material, fun games, and ways to connect with friends. However, it can also be a playground for things like cyberbullying, malicious content, and bad actors who seek to prey on kids and their families for things such as identity theft, criminal activity, and more.
Just like wearing bike helmets and seatbelts, we need to practice good cyber hygiene skills when we’re online to ensure we stay protected.
Parents, guardians, and teachers, here are some tips you can share with kids and students to ensure they stay safe:
As a mother of two young kids myself, I know the importance of keeping kids safe wherever they go, including online. Here are some things parents can do to ensure the safety of their kids.
First, talk to kids about your expectations for them online. Consider setting boundaries that may include rules about how long they’re allowed to be on the computer, what sites they’re allowed to visit, what software programs they can use, and what tasks or activities they’re allowed to do based upon age appropriateness, knowledge, and maturity.
Cyber hygiene doesn’t stop here. It is highly recommended to keep computers in an open area like the living room or kitchen so you can in case you see certain behaviors, that you could have the opportunity to intervene before something bad happens.
Many internet service providers offer parental controls, sometimes for free, specifically designed to protect kids online, restricting access to websites and communication features, such as email, chat, and instant messaging by age, content, time limits, and other categories for students. Contact your internet service provider (ISP) to see if any of these services are available.
In addition, you may be able to set some parental controls within your web browsers. Some browsers allow you to restrict or allow only certain websites to be viewed on your computer, and you can protect these settings with a password.
While no technology is foolproof, there are also commercial software applications available that you can install to add an additional layer of protection by monitoring, filtering, and restricting access to dangerous content.
It’s important that you know It is important to keep up with what your child is doing on the computer, including which websites they’re visiting. If they’re using email, instant message, or chat rooms, make sure you have a sense of who they’re communicating with and that your child actually knows the people they’re talking to, and be sure to prioritize privacy.
Check their privacy settings on social media sites to prevent strangers from accessing personal information. These settings may not always be set up properly by default.Ěý
You should talk to your family about being cautious of fake and malicious websites and potential scams like fake emails. Make it clear that no one should click on any suspect suspicious links or open any unexpected email attachments.
And finally, have the conversation with your kids that if it sees something on a website, in an email, or in a chat room that doesn’t seem right or makes them uncomfortable, that they can come to you with their questions and concerns.
As part of 188BET×ăÇň's Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) and my continued commitment to educating kids on cyber hygiene best practices, I co-wrote “,” a book written to educate our youth about internet safety.Ěý
Learn more about this book and see how it can help young kids stay safe online.
Find out more about how 188BET×ăÇň’s Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) ˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚý programs, including the ,Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺĚýVeterans Program, are helping to solve the cyber skills gap and prepare the cybersecurity workforce of tomorrow.