How to Protect Your Personal Information Online

How to Protect Your Kids and Young Ones Online

Hello, and welcome to my cypratech. In continuation of our series on Information Security today I'm going to talk about how to protect your kids and young ones online. If you're a parent, a guardian, a teacher, or anyone who cares about the well-being of children, you probably know that the internet can be a wonderful place for learning, entertainment, and communication. But you also know that the internet can pose some serious risks and challenges for kids, such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or predators. So how can you help your kids and young ones navigate the online world safely and responsibly? How can you talk to them about being online without scaring them or invading their privacy? How can you use parental controls and other tools to monitor and limit their online activities? In this blog post, I'll try to answer these questions and give you some tips and resources that will help you protect your kids and young ones online. Let's get started!

What are the risks and challenges for kids online?

The internet is a vast and diverse space that offers a lot of opportunities for kids to explore, learn, create, and connect. However, it also exposes them to some potential dangers that they may not be prepared for or aware of. Some of the common risks and challenges for kids online are:

• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet or digital devices to harass, threaten, humiliate, or hurt another person. Cyberbullying can happen through social media platforms, messaging apps, online games, or email. Cyberbullying can have negative effects on the mental health and well-being of kids, such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. According to a survey by UNICEF Nigeria in 2019, about 40% of Nigerian children aged 13-17 have experienced cyberbullying at least once.
• Inappropriate content: Inappropriate content is any online material that is harmful, offensive, or unsuitable for kids. Inappropriate content can include violence, pornography, hate speech, drugs, gambling, or scams. Inappropriate content can expose kids to disturbing or misleading information that can affect their development, values, or behavior. According to a report by Internet Matters in 2020, about 62% of parents worldwide are concerned about their children seeing inappropriate content online.
• Predators: Predators are people who use the internet or digital devices to lure or exploit kids for sexual or other purposes. Predators can pretend to be someone else online, such as a friend, a peer, or a celebrity, and try to gain their trust, friendship, or affection. Predators can also use online platforms, such as chat rooms, forums, or games, to find and contact kids. Predators can ask kids for personal information, pictures, videos, or money, or try to meet them in person. Predators can harm kids physically, emotionally, or financially. According to a report by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in 2018, about 750,000 predators are online at any given time.

Source: [Alarmy]

How to talk to your kids and young ones about being online

One of the best ways to protect your kids and young ones online is to talk to them about being online. Talking to your kids and young ones about being online can help you understand their online activities, interests, and experiences. It can also help you educate them about the benefits and risks of the internet, and guide them on how to make good decisions and stay safe online. Here are some tips on how to talk to your kids and young ones about being online:

• Start early and often: You should start talking to your kids and young ones about being online as soon as they start using the internet or digital devices, and keep the conversation going as they grow older and their online activities change. You should talk to them regularly and casually, not just when there is a problem or a crisis. You should also use everyday opportunities, such as watching a TV show, reading a news article, or seeing an online ad, to bring up the topic of being online.
• Be positive and supportive: You should be positive and supportive when talking to your kids and young ones about being online. You should acknowledge and appreciate the positive aspects of the internet, such as learning, creativity, and communication. You should also encourage and praise your kids and young ones for their online achievements, skills, or hobbies. You should avoid being judgmental, critical, or fearful when talking to your kids and young ones about being online. You should also avoid lecturing, scolding, or threatening them for their online mistakes or misbehaviors.
• Be open and honest: You should be open and honest when talking to your kids and young ones about being online. You should share your own online experiences, opinions, and feelings with them. You should also listen to their online experiences, opinions, and feelings with respect and empathy. You should be willing to answer their questions and address their concerns about being online. You should also be honest about your own knowledge and limitations about being online. You should admit when you don't know something or when you need help from someone else.
• Be respectful and reasonable: You should be respectful and reasonable when talking to your kids and young ones about being online. You should respect their privacy and autonomy when they are online. You should not spy on them or invade their personal space without their permission or knowledge. You should also respect their choices and preferences when they are online. You should not impose your own values or beliefs on them or force them to use or avoid certain online platforms or content. You should also be reasonable with your expectations and rules when they are online. You should not expect them to be perfect or flawless when they are online. You should also not set unrealistic or unfair rules that limit their online opportunities or enjoyment.

Source: [Freepik]

How to help your kids and young ones make good decisions and stay safe online

Besides talking to your kids and young ones about being online, you can also help them make good decisions and stay safe online by teaching them some basic skills and strategies. Here are some tips on how to help your kids and young ones make good decisions and stay safe online:

• Teach them how to create and manage strong passwords: You can help your kids and young ones create and manage strong passwords for their online accounts and devices by following the same best practices that I mentioned in my previous blog post on how to protect your personal information online. You can also help them use a password manager or the built-in password manager in their web browser to generate, store, and fill in their passwords for them. You can also teach them not to share their passwords with anyone, not even their friends or family members, unless they have a good reason and trust them.
• Teach them how to use multi-factor authentication: You can help your kids and young ones use multi-factor authentication for their online accounts and devices by following the same best practices that I mentioned in my previous blog post on how to protect your personal information online. You can also help them set up multi-factor authentication for their online accounts and devices by using their phone number, email address, or a secure app, such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator. You can also teach them not to share their verification codes or devices with anyone, not even their friends or family members, unless they have a good reason and trust them.
• Teach them how to avoid phishing and other scams: You can help your kids and young ones avoid phishing and other scams by following the same best practices that I mentioned in my previous blog post on how to protect your personal information online. You can also help them recognize and report phishing and other scams by using some examples, such as this quiz from Google or this game from Jigsaw. You can also teach them not to click on any links or open any attachments that they do not trust or expect, not to reply to or forward any suspicious messages, and not to give out any personal information or money to anyone online, unless they have a good reason and trust them.
• Teach them how to secure their devices and networks: You can help your kids and young ones secure their devices and networks by following the same best practices that I mentioned in my previous blog post on how to protect your personal information online. You can also help them install reputable antivirus software and firewall on their devices and keep them updated regularly. You can also help them lock their devices with a password, a PIN, a pattern, a fingerprint, or facial recognition when they are not using them or when they leave them unattended. You can also help them encrypt their devices to protect their data in case they are lost or stolen. You can also help them use secure Wi-Fi networks or a VPN when they are online.

Source: [Shutterstock]

How to use parental controls and other tools to monitor and limit their online activities

Another way to protect your kids and young ones online is to use parental controls and other tools to monitor and limit their online activities. Parental controls and other tools are features or apps that allow you to set rules and restrictions for your kids' online activities, such as what websites they can visit, what apps they can use, what content they can see, what contacts they can communicate with, what time they can go online, and how long they can stay online. Parental controls and other tools can help you keep an eye on your kids' online activities, prevent them from accessing inappropriate or harmful content, and limit their screen time and exposure. Here are some tips on how to use parental controls and other tools to monitor and limit your kids' online activities:

• Use the built-in parental controls in your devices: You can use the built-in parental controls in your devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktops, to set rules and restrictions for your kids' online activities. For example, you can use Screen Time for iOS devices, Parental control for Android devices, Microsoft Family Safety for Windows devices, or Parental Controls for Mac devices. You can also use the built-in parental controls in your web browsers, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
• Use the built-in parental controls in your online platforms: You can use the built-in parental controls in your online platforms, such as social media platforms, messaging apps, online games, or streaming services, to set rules and restrictions for your kids' online activities.
• Use third-party parental control apps: You can use third-party parental control apps that offer more features and options than the built-in parental controls in your devices or online platforms. For example, you can use Qustodio, Norton Family, Kaspersky Safe Kids, or Bark. These apps can help you monitor and limit your kids' online activities across multiple devices and platforms.

Source: [Freepik]

Conclusion

Protecting your kids and young ones online is not only important, but also possible. By talking to them about being online, teaching them how to make good decisions and stay safe online, and using parental controls and other tools to monitor and limit their online activities, you can help them enjoy the benefits of the internet while avoiding the risks. Remember, your kids and young ones are curious and adventurous by nature. They need your guidance and support to explore the online world safely and responsibly.

I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something useful. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to leave them below. And don't forget to Visit this cypratech.blogspot.com for more tips and tricks on personal information security. See you next time!