The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.

How to control your child on the Internet: 6 important tips for parents

'13.10.2019'

Source: Life hacker

Ways to strike a balance between surveillance and indifference.

Фото: Depositphotos

1. Learn Internet Security

The child should get acquainted with the rules of behavior on the Internet as soon as he learns to open the browser, notes Life hacker. Tell him what online can rob, hurt and scare, as well as harm your smartphone or computer. However, with simple rules, this can be avoided. Here are the main ones:

  • You can’t buy anything, including inside apps.
  • You can’t download music, games, applications, books and other content from unverified sites.
  • You cannot chat with strangers in instant messaging programs and on social networks. Even with children: a boy or girl can easily turn out to be a grown man.
  • You can’t disclose personal information: home address and phone number, income level of parents, number of the school in which you study.
  • You can not upload too frank pictures and indicate the geolocation if the photo was taken in an apartment or in a school yard.

Learning games will help you become familiar with the rules of online behavior.

“The longer parents can help their child in a friendly way to explore the Internet space, including setting up pages on social networks, posting photos, updating antiviruses and playing games, the better,” says Liya Sharova, Internet security expert, founder of the school security "Stop Threat".

2. Encourage stories of dubious information

According to the Regional Public Center for Information Technology, one in five children 12 – 13 years old does not turn to anyone for help in case of cyberbullying. And only 17% tell their parents about it.

In order for the child to talk about friends, offenders, offers to go somewhere, indecent photos or pictures sent by outsiders, parents need to establish friendly contact with him. The child will be happy to share any information only on condition that they will not criticize him.

“Children hide information from their parents, because they believe that nothing but tantrums, Internet bans and scandals will be expected from their parents. Only calm and friendly communication will help to protect the child from real trouble in time, ”says Liya Sharova.

On the subject: Halloween Safety: 9 Child and Adolescent Protection Tips

3. Allow gadgets to be used only in the common room

Standing over the soul is not necessary. Put the child where you can see the screen of the gadget from which he is viewing information. If he protests, explain that this is necessary for his own safety.

4. Set control on available devices

According to the US Cybersecurity and Education Center, 62% of children 9-15 years old go to adult sites after they find them in search, 21% - watch videos intended for adults, 31% - lie to sites about their age and 20% - intentionally looking for adult information.

You will not be able to reach all the gadgets with which the child will go online. However, it is in your power to secure those that are at home. For this:

  • Install antivirus.
  • Install the parental control program.
  • Enable secure browser searches.
  • Install browsers for kids.
  • Allow to use only sites for children.
  • Install apps adapted for children.

“It is almost impossible to protect a child from adult information. Children bypass parental prohibitions and restrictions, skillfully deceiving adults. All of them watch YouTube during school breaks and already in the third or fourth grade know about pornography and drugs, ”says Lia Sharova.

5. Make friends on social networks

Social networks will help to quickly learn about the interests and experiences of the child and to maintain communication with him. Add it to your friends, share links, like. But in no case do not criticize the pages of friends or his own, do not overwhelm with comments. After all, if the child becomes uncomfortable, he will start a second account, which you will not know about.

“It is important to be friends with the child, including online, in order to be aware of everything that he learns. Watch together his favorite bloggers on YouTube and, more importantly, know who he is friends with and communicates with, ”the expert recommends.

On the subject: How does the child protection service work in the USA and why you can be taken away from your child

6. Do not go into correspondence without asking

An innocent desire to read a child’s correspondence violates their right to privacy and secrets. Show respect and hold back. If you can’t cope with the desire to control everything, consult a psychotherapist. Indeed, in order to know what is happening in the life of a child, you need to build a trusting relationship with him.

“You can't get into a child's correspondence without his permission. This can greatly reduce children's trust in their parents. The consequences of this can be even more devastating than what the parents learned from the correspondence, ”says Yana Fedulova, Ph.D., psychologist.

And if you still could not restrain yourself and spied, then do not pay attention to profanity and rudeness. The only important thing here is the danger: discussion of fights, drug offerings, invitations from adult strangers, intimate photos. And if you found any of this in correspondence, then gather your will in a fist, apologize for breaking the borders and explain to the child what is threatening him. Moreover, it is very important to maintain an atmosphere of goodwill, no matter how difficult it is.

Follow success stories, tips, and more by subscribing to Woman.ForumDaily on Facebook, and don't miss the main thing in our mailing list

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By: XYZScripts.com