The world of internet is huge and comes with its own surprise package. The young kids won’t have the ability to judge and rationalise what is good and bad. Its always better to provide them with a rule book to encounter such events. Lets say, when your kid surfs the internet and happens to see a pornographic advert image, how would he/she react to it? We can make it simple for them by teaching them some basic online rules. This can help them to minimise the psychological impact to some level and even avert danger.
Identity Theft
A individual can impersonate a person for financial gains and criminal activities. This can cause altering damage to the kids’ or teens’ future. A chat room is a common place where this could happen.
I will not give my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number without my parents’ permission.
Graphic Image Alert
When we don’t install ad blockers or antivirus applications, there are chances that our kids might come in contact with a highly graphic content which can harm our kids understanding and reasoning skills. This can cause a prolonged damage with frequent occurrence.
I will tell my parents right away if I come across something that makes me feel uncomfortable.
Meeting Strangers
The social media is a mixed bag of the good and the bad. There are high chances, that our kid can come in contact with a paedophile, criminals or even sexual predators . They might lure the young kids or teens by providing false information of the victims’ interest and setup a time to meet them . Here is a case where a teen was lured to meet a psychopath, who later killed the teen.
I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring a parent along.
Posting Pictures
Once you upload a content to the social media it can go places that you can never imagine. Pictures of young girls would end up in the pornographic websites to create fake profiles. These profiles would be used up by random strangers, to seduce more strangers for further criminal activities. Its always good to seek your advice, before uploading images to the social media.
I will talk with my parents about posting pictures of myself or others online and not post any pictures that my parents consider to be inappropriate.
Messages from Strangers
When your kids’ identity is compromised online using your kids’ phone number or email, there are chances that he/she might be contacted for various reasons, ranging from marketers to criminals.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away.
Schedule Internet Usage
You can schedule the time for your kids to use the internet and their mobile phone. This can help them focus on their academics and also their physical health. You may also restrict them from accessing the dark side of the internet like the pornographic content. You can rely on third party parental control applications to help you facilitate.
I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online and using a mobile phone. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
Sharing Credentials
Your kids’ email, Facebook, other social media accounts might contain a lot of important information that cannot be made free to access. This might lead to identity theft. Teach your kids not share their credentials to anyone but just you.
I will not give out my passwords to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.
Installing Unreliable Software
Technology has developed so much that, hackers can be sitting on your computer without you knowing it. They can even see you through the built-in camera on your notebook. There are various ways for a hacker to reach your data. When you unknowingly install a software that falsely claims to perform the required actions, you are giving the hackers to run their program and take over your device. People of all age can fall for this trick.
I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or mobile device or jeopardise my family’s privacy.
Don’t be a cyber bully
Teach your kids on how to treat strangers online and lead by example. The content your kids says or posts is read by the whole world. If one can watch their words and avoid being a bully, internet can be a peaceful place.
I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.
Teach Everyone
The technology is growing day by day and we would miss out on the latest technology, that is currently trending. Our kids would have learnt them with ease and its our duty to keep ourselves updated with the latest tech and be more watchful about the dangers that surrounds us.
I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.
