How to Keep your Children Safe Online Without Invading their Privacy

As parents, we do everything possible to keep our children safe: we tell them not to talk to strangers when they go to school, to be careful when crossing the road, and we even arrange secure transport to school. But what are you doing to protect them from the risks that exist on the Internet? Today's children are growing up in a digital world where they can communicate, play, and share information online with just a few clicks. While this can be entertaining for them, it also exposes them to potential threats. In this article, we'll explore the most common risks, as well as the most appropriate strategies and tools to keep them safe.

Understanding What You Need to Know About Children's Internet Safety

If you want to protect your children online, it's crucial to understand the most common potential threats. For instance, children and teenagers may encounter inappropriate content online such as pornography or obscene language. They can also experience cyberbullying or harassment. While this doesn't mean children will encounter all these cyber threats, being aware of them can help both you and your children make informed decisions.

Protecting Children from Online Risks

Cyberbullying: This involves using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or attack another person. Online threats are made through text messages, tweets, or malicious and aggressive posts. Bullies often publish personal information, photos, or videos intending to hurt or embarrass their victims.

Identity Theft (Phishing): This occurs when someone sends your child an email, text message, or pop-up that appears to come from a legitimate source like a bank, government agency, or business, but is actually a scam to obtain their financial information. Phishing is typically used as an illegal tactic to access bank accounts, steal identities, or commit fraud.

Access to Inappropriate Content: There is a vast amount of content available on the Internet that is unsuitable for children. They often find it accidentally or driven by natural curiosity, such as clicking on a YouTube pop-up video. The greatest concern arises when they encounter malicious or fraudulent individuals, a common problem when online.

Virus Downloads Through Deceptive Links: This involves a technique called Clickbait which uses links, advertisements, or pop-ups designed to attract attention and get children to click on them. They may promise something exciting, shocking, or useful, but generate malicious file downloads to infect devices with viruses or malware.

7 Useful Strategies to Improve your Children's Online Safety

The concept of Internet safety for children goes far beyond limiting screen time or installing parental controls. It's a comprehensive approach that includes educating children about potential risks, encouraging open communication, setting boundaries, and giving them the tools and knowledge needed to make responsible decisions. Here are 7 strategies to help protect your children:

1. Keep the computer in a common family space, such as the living room. For mobile phones or tablets, you can configure them to forget WiFi passwords, so your children cannot connect to the Internet without your knowledge. You can also establish an agreement that mobile devices are not to be used in bedrooms.

2. With younger children, consider reviewing their web browser history after they connect to see which sites they visit. As children grow older, this approach becomes more complicated as they discover how to delete such history, so focus on opening dialogue about responsible Internet use.

3. Customise the security settings of Internet-accessible devices your children use. Keeping your child safe online means establishing privacy controls and preferences. You have the ability to establish some control over your children's content and interactions. Security settings allow you to track their online activity, filter the content they view, and even limit usage through schedules.

4. Use child-adapted search engines. Keep in mind that regular search engines may show results containing content inappropriate for your children. However, search engines have been created specifically to show age-appropriate results for children, without advertisements and with easy-to-understand language. Some examples include KidTopia, Kiddle, and KidRex.org.

5. Teach your children to use social media safely. They need to understand that photos and messages shared online may be available to unwanted recipients. It's important they learn to customise privacy settings to ensure only people they know can access their profiles. They should also understand the risks associated with sending or forwarding texts, images, or videos with sexual content, as well as the harm they can cause to themselves and others.

6. Install software that provides parental controls. This is a proactive step to keep your child safe online and ensure their digital experience aligns with family values. For mobile devices, each platform offers specific ways to configure and customise these controls.
   
   Generally, you can set limits on app downloads, restrict Internet access during certain hours, and even filter inappropriate content. For computers, operating systems also incorporate parental controls. By activating these controls, you can find a balance between allowing your children to enjoy the benefits of technology while protecting them from potential risks.

7. Establish guidelines for Internet use at home. Don't wait for something bad to happen before setting rules. Limiting screen time and creating technology-free zones at home are essential strategies for promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle. It's also a good idea to ensure your child understands they shouldn't communicate online with people they don't know, especially when using online gaming.

Demonstrate Positive Online Behaviour

Show your children through examples the type of positive behaviour you want them to emulate online. If they see you being careful and respectful, they're more likely to follow in your footsteps. And yes, that includes limiting your own screen time.

How to Keep Children Safe Online Without Being Invasive

As children grow older, parents find it increasingly difficult to maintain the same level of control and supervision they once had, while children seek more privacy and independence. This transition period is critical for parents. It's essential to find ways and opportunities to engage in conversations with children to warn them about using age-inappropriate websites and applications.

A delicate balance between trust and supervision is crucial when guiding your child's online activities. While it's important to foster their sense of autonomy, prioritising their safety while understanding their needs is equally vital. Have open conversations about the potential risks of sharing personal information online; this will help your children understand the importance of protecting their identity.

The Importance of Digital Safety Education

Teaching good online safety practices is a key task for parents today, especially when children interact with various platforms like social media. Explaining potential threats not only helps children understand the importance of following rules but also encourages responsible behaviour from an early age. Additionally, it's beneficial for children to participate in discussions about the safety features offered by different platforms.

3 Privacy-Respecting Monitoring Tools

1. Google Family Link

• • Require parent permission for new app installations

  • Block applications you don't want your children to use or install

  • Set daily usage limits

  • Know their location

  • Monitor websites visited in Chrome browser sessions

2. Microsoft Family Safety

This safety tool helps you manage your children's screen time and device usage. To use the service, you need to install the application on each mobile device you need to manage. Once configured, you can activate screen time limits and schedules, filter specific applications and websites on mobile phones, tablets, and Xbox. This application also tracks your children's locations using mobile GPS.

3. Net Nanny

The application uses real-time content analysis to filter websites your child attempts to access. It also allows monitoring of YouTube search and viewing histories. Key tracking features include:

• • Ability to view location (and location history) of all your children on a single map

  • Define safe places (home, school, grandparents' house, or wherever you need) and receive alerts when your children leave or arrive at these places

  • Set internet access schedules and app usage times

  • Block applications unsuitable for children

Conclusion

For Australian families, ensuring children’s online safety while respecting their privacy requires a balanced approach. By implementing appropriate security measures, maintaining open communication, and utilising the right tools, parents can help their children navigate the digital world safely and confidently.

Remember that online safety is an ongoing conversation, not a one-time setup. As technology evolves and children grow, continue to adapt your approach while maintaining trust and open dialogue with your children about their online experiences.