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Last updated on April 18th, 2024 at 05:15 pm
Protecting your children from cyberthreats is something all parents need to know how to do. There are always new apps and new technology, and it can be hard to keep up, but it’s important we do.ย
Let’s take a look at some ways we can help our kids stay safe online.
Chances are, your children are into everything high tech, and if your child does like to stay up to date with the latest tech, you may have thought about treating them to a new:
If your child loves to stay up to date with the latest tech, you may have thought about treating them to a new:
- Smartphone
- Gaming console
- Laptop/desktop computer
- Smart tablet
Some parents assume that their children are safe to use their devices as they please; however, this isnโt the case. If your child isnโt careful, he or she could run into one or more of the following issues:
- Cyberbullying
- Accidentally downloading malware
- Posting or receiving inappropriate content
Protecting your children from cyberthreats is, unfortunately, a part of parenting nowadays. Here are a few tips you can use to keep your kids safer online.
Protecting Your Children from Cyberthreats
Cyberbullying
Whether it be at school or work, most people have dealt with a bully at some point in their life. However, kids today have to deal with a new type of issue: cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is the act of harassing or ridiculing another person over a digital platform. These platforms include:
- Video game servers
- Online chatting apps
- Social media
Getting cyberbullied is a serious issue, as it can negatively impact a personโs self-esteem and mental health. Furthermore, it can turn a once enjoyable activity into an unpleasant experience.
To make matters worse, your child may be getting cyberbullied by someone they know from school or work.
If you have reason to believe your child is getting cyberbullied, you should encourage him or her to open up a dialogue about the issue. If the problem persists, you may want to contact a local support group or, if necessary, the authorities.
Accidentally Downloading Malware
For those who donโt know, malware is a term that describes malicious software that can compromise your data and slow your device down. There are several different types of malware, all of which have their own unique sets of threats.
As an example, keyloggers are a form of malware that track a userโs keystrokes. When the user types sensitive information (like their banking info or social security number) on their device, the keylogger sends the data to a cyber-attacker. This is just one example of how accidentally downloading malware can compromise your data.
Removing established malware can be quite tricky, even for experienced cybersecurity experts. Thankfully, thereโs an easy way that you canย protect your computer and your information โ by downloading a trusted antivirus program.
These programs can proactively track and block out malware before it becomes an issue. Although there are several free antivirus programs on the market, youโll get the best results by purchasing high-quality software from a well-known cybersecurity company.
Posting Inappropriate Content
As you may know, deleting photos and videos from the internet is nearly impossible. Although you may be able to remove something from a particular platform, you most likely wonโt be able to erase the content entirely.
With this in mind, you can see why your children must use good judgment while posting online. The wrong photo or status update can potentially rear its ugly head at the worst possible time, like at a future job interview.
Before they use their new gadgets, be sure to teach your children aboutย safe posting practices on social mediaย and online. This will help them navigate the internet safely and securely.ย
And, if your children receive inappropriate content, they should know that they must let you know immediately. As with every aspect of parenting, open communication and trust is key.
By using the tips mentioned above, you can keep your children safer from cyberthreats. Do you have more ideas for protecting your children online? Leave us a comment below.
Also read:
How to Talk to Teens About Social Media: 7 Tips
6 Tips for Setting Screen-Time Boundaries
Chore Charts for Kids (Free Printables) + Why Kids Need Chores
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