My son has been spending more time online these days. While he insists it is for school reasons, I’m certain he’s spending more time playing games or surfing YouTube than actually doing work.
I understand he’s intrigued by how much fun, games and entertainment the internet offers. However, I do get worried about how much time he spends online. It’s also not very reassuring when you see reports indicating that 41% of consumers (teenagers and adults) in APAC have been victims of cyberbullying. As a parent and someone who works within the cybersecurity industry, I understand the growing number of challenges that others encounter.
While the internet serves as great learning and development resource, it can also pose safety risks and dangers to growing children. Parents play a key role in guiding and monitoring children’s internet usage habits, to ensure their children stay safe while surfing the web.
Singapore ranked fourth out of 30 countries in the world according to the recent Child Online Safety Index (COSI) report, indicating it is one of the best countries when it comes to online safety for children. Despite this, a high percentage of Singaporean children within 8 to 12 years are at risk of cyberbullying (40%) and cyberthreats (23%), and the risks are even higher for teenagers.
While we know that parents and schools have the best intentions in keeping their children safe online, they may not always have the know-how in the digital sphere. We encounter unexpected malware threats and cyberattacks even as adults. In line with ESET’s vision of enabling users to enjoy the full potential of themselves and their technology in a secure digital world, we launched the Safer Kids Online initiative. Through this initiative, we have expanded our commitment to creating a safer online world for children by providing a go-to educational resource for families and schools around the world.
The reality is we cannot stop our children from going online, nor can we monitor their activities 24/7. Our approach is to therefore share insights and tips on how parents can educate their children on the concept of internet safety. This is to ensure that our children will know how to exercise the right discretions and take precautions when they are on the web by themselves.
Have regular open and honest conversations
Building trust with your children during the early stages of digital usage is important. This allows you to understand what their activities are when they are online and some of their frequented websites and apps. If you find that their behaviour online is inappropriate, have a discussion with your child about what is happening and explain why you think it is questionable. By keeping this communication open, your child will be more open to approaching you if they encounter any problems online.
Set rules, but be flexible
It is important to expose your child to different types of content online but it is equally crucial to establish ground rules. Involving them in this process ensures they understand the responsibilities they are given and that they are seen as fair. This includes designated screen time and permissions for online purchases.
The way your child uses the internet will evolve as they grow older. Therefore, adjustments to the preset ground rules should be flexible in understanding their needs. For example, the need for more screen time in order to balance out their homework and leisure time.
Use understandable concepts to simplify your point
The concept of malware and online predators may be difficult and scary for children to understand. However, reinforcing simple lessons like ‘don’t talk to strangers or ’don’t give out any personal information online and the reasons why helps in the long run. In doing so, parents are able to relate real-world scenarios to the digital world, helping children to better understand the dangers online.
Lead by example
Children learn by watching and imitating others. In this case, their biggest influence would be their parents. Therefore, it is important for parents to practice what they preach when it comes to digital usage and online behaviours. Enforcing practices like no phones during meals and having downtime from screens encourages family bonding time. I try to inculcate this habit with my own children too and we are actually able to focus better in our conversations when we are away from our screens. Exploring websites together allows parents and children to share their knowledge and online behaviours with each other.
As children become more independent in navigating the online world, parents must continue their efforts to ensure that internet safety remains a priority. Incorporating these practices early on helps parents build the foundation for their children to use the internet safely and inculcate good online habits. I recommend all parents to visit our Safer Kids Online platform to learn more about this.
We also need to encourage our kids to engage in activities and pursue passions beyond the digital world. I encourage parents to explore other activities which don’t require a screen or internet and can foster family bonding time. It is very easy for us to be engrossed by the digital world and all its capabilities, given the information we can get at our fingertips and the convenience it brings. Setting aside our devices to play outdoors, read or just have a simple meal together, is what brings a family closer.
With ESET Parental Control for Android
TRY FREE FOR 30 DAYSFor kids, to spend the whole day watching a TV series, texting or playing games is no problem at all. Why do kids find it relaxing to spend time online? And how can parents limit screen time as smoothly as possible? Here are some useful tips.
Your child stares into a smartphone and keeps on scrolling. They do not seem that amused – in fact, there seems to be traces of discontent on their face. You try to engage with them, but they don’t seem able to tear their eyes away from the screen. Do you know the reason behind such behaviour? Perhaps your child is dealing with FOMO, the fear of missing out.
