The internet is such a major part of kids’ lives today. Of course, they all go to school, have chats, or even play games. Just as in the real world, so also are the dangers of the internet. A lot of children experience cyberbullying or other threats online and may not know how to fight them. As the parent, you are the major key in ensuring children’s safety online.
This guide would take you through simple to effective ways of teaching kids about online safety and then making the Internet a much safer place for them.
What is Cyberbullying?
When someone uses the internet to be mean to another person, it is called Cyberbullying. Examples are:
- Sending messages full of hurtful comments.
- Spreading rumors.
- Making threats.
- Purposely excluding someone online.
According to a 2022 study from the Pew Research Center, over 54% of girls aged 15 to 17 experienced at least one of these behaviors.
Other Online Threats
Kids may be very familiar with other events that can happen online besides cyberbullying. For example:
- Scams: Traps for stealing personal information or money.
- Strangers: Pretending to be friends but conning people into something bad.
- Bad materials: Images or videos not suited for kids.
- Hacking: Someone breaks into accounts to steal information.
Most children don’t report their online problems to their parents because of:
- Embarrassment and shame.
- Fear of losing internet privilege.
- They think they can handle things by themselves.
Setting Online Rules at Home
Having clear rules helps children understand what’s safe online behavior. They are welcome to:
- Decide how much time spent each day on “the internet”.
- Approved sites on which they can go.
- Areas in the home where devices are off limits, like mealtime.
- Explain the importance of keeping information personal. This includes not sharing their full name, address, phone number, or school name without permission.
- Only play with people they know in real life.
- Inform you or use in-game tools to report mean or inappropriate actions.
With these guidelines, you can encourage kids to enjoy the internet safely and responsibly.
Signs Your Child Is Being Bullied Online
A lot of kids fear talking to their parents when they experience cyberbullying because they are afraid that they would be in trouble or lose internet access or make the situation worse. However, there are specific behaviors that indicate that there is something wrong:
- Sudden Mood Changes: If your child suddenly becomes sad, angry, or withdrawn after using his or her phone or computer, it may be a sign of online harassment.
- Avoiding Devices: A child who suddenly stops using his phone, avoids social media, or deletes apps he or she once enjoyed may be trying to escape cyberbullying.
- Loss of Interest in School or Friends: Children being bullied online become anxious or depressed and tend to avoid socializing or have difficulty in school.
- Secretive Behavior: Quickly closing screens when you walk by or refusing to talk about their online interactions may mean that they could be hiding something troubling.
What to Do If They Receive Mean Messages
In case of cruel messages forwarded from a child to a parent, he/she should carefully handle the situation.
- Stay calm and reassure them. Your child may be feeling scared or even embarrassed. Let them know they are not the only one struggling with the situation and that you will stand by to help them.
- Do not respond to the bully. Any engagement with a bully usually worsens things. Tell your child to ignore all messages instead.
- Evidence should be collected. Screenshots of any nasty or threatening messages should be taken; these would be useful in reporting the behavior.
- Block and report. Most of the social media and gaming platforms allow the user to block and report cyberbullying. Help your child through the steps.
- A teacher or counselor should be notified. If the bullying involves fellow classmates, the school may be able to intervene.
- Seek professional help if needed. If your child is seriously hurt or depressed, consider counseling.
The STOP-Block-Tell Rule
A simple way to help children remember how to handle cyberbullying is the STOP-Block-Tell rule:
STOP: Do not respond to the bully, no matter how upsetting their words are. Engaging can only make things worse.
BLOCK: Block them from the app, game, or platform where the bullying occurs so no further contact occurs.
TELL: Your child is encouraged to tell you or a teacher or trusted adult so it can be addressed as soon as possible.
How KidsAge.ai Keeps Kids Safe While Learning
KidsAge.ai is an educational platform designed to transform learning into a fun experience and to keep children safe while doing so. KidsAge offers an AI tutor and math gaming and advantages of interactiveness, thereby creating a safe place for kids to polish their skills without the unbridled hazards of the unregulated web.
Monitoring Without Invading Privacy
Many parents find it hard to strike a balance between keeping their children safe online and respecting their privacy. Here’s how to go about doing it:
So, set up parental controls
Most devices, browsers, and apps come with parental control settings that help to manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and monitor activity. Instead of tracking your child in secret, locate the middle ground with parental controls. Explain why they exist: to protect and not spy on your kid.
Keep track of their social media & gaming (with their consent)
Let your child know that you will be keeping an eye on their social media or gaming accounts for safety purposes, not to invade their space.
What to Do If Your Child Is Cyberbullied
Incident Report: Most social media platforms and games have a report feature for issues related to cyberbullying.
- Ensure your child blocks the harasser immediately.
- Screenshots and the messages should be saved as proof.
- If the bully is a fellow student in school, the school has to be informed for further action.
- Cyberbullying can be an emotional event, and if your child finds it difficult, consider some counseling.
When to Involve Authorities
When your child receives serious threats, you will need to be reported to local law enforcement. If the threats are backed up with the release of private photos or sensitive information, CGI should be contacted instead.
Supporting Your Child Emotionally
It is an emotionally harrowing process for children to experience online bullying; here are a few ways you can support them:
- Reassure Them: Confirm for them that it is not their fault and that they are not alone.
- Encourage Open Communication: Ensure your child is comfortable bringing their problems to you.
- Help Them Rebuild Confidence: Encourage your child to take part in activities that build their self-esteem.
Conclusion
Technology provides children with an amazing world for learning, meeting other people, and having fun. But with that wonderful world goes the horrible side that children need to know about.
As the parent, you should never prohibit technology but should rather show your child the ropes about safely using it.
Teach them the signs of cyberbullying, how to set privacy lines, and to always be kind and responsible online. That way, when they step into the digital world, they become empowered to enjoy it safely and with confidence.
Urging them to discover, play, and learn with safety checks is the right way to do it.
