When your child’s old enough to use social media and navigate the internet for both personal and educational use, you should be directing your child how to use it safely and with minimal risk.
Children are taught about the dangers of not being careful and are aware of potential dangers the internet can pose, but until they see it in practice it can be difficult for them to know what’s a threat and what isn’t.
Hackers and thieves are also becoming more clever with their methods to lure users in, which is why it’s important children are kept up to date with the latest developments online.
In this guide from a prep school in Chesham, we take a look at how you can keep your child safe when they’re online.
Oversee their first few days of navigating online
Ensure your child knows that you’re not spying on them, merely watching their actions and seeing if they can spot any dangers when they come into contact with them. There are a host of different ways that people can access your data if you’re not careful, and letting your child learn for themselves what to look out for is a crucial step to letting them browse without being supervised.
Encourage them to ask you for help if they’re unsure
If your child is on social media a lot, they may come into contact with people they’ve never met before. If they’re unsure on whether to converse with someone, they should feel comfortable to ask you about it.
Remind them to never share personal information online
In no circumstance should personal data be shared online. Children can feel tempted to share locations, credit card details and even other sensitive information that can reveal their whereabouts and put them at risk. Remind them that they should only access sites with encryption added to the site.