EXPERT advice: 7 tips for back to school internet safety
It's better to start teaching about online safety from the get-go.
Most parents today didn’t grow up in a digital world – Gen Z is the first ‘digital native’ generation, born 1997-2012 – so we have the unique challenge of keeping our kids safe online while we learn more about the vast, ever-evolving internet and social media platforms.
And kids learn fast – so we have our work cut out for us! Our kids need help to manage relationships online, just as they do in the real world. Thankfully, parents don’t have to do it alone.
February 7th 2023 is Safer Internet Day, global initiative involving schools, businesses and community groups across 200 countries and territories. This year’s theme is ‘Play it safe and fair online’ and Australian government is onboard with resources for schools and parents. The Act gives eSafety substantial new powers to protect all Australians – adults now as well as children – across most online platforms and forums where people can experience harm.
According to paediatric psychologist Amanda Abel from leading kids-safe digital media company, TotallyAwesome, having an open conversation about online safety is vital for protecting children. And the sooner you start, the better.
“Children face a lot of online harms, from scams and cyber bullying to predators. One of the most common questions I am asked as the resident psychologist at TotallyAwesome is ‘how can we keep kids safe online?’. Most parents aren’t internet experts, but taking the right approach to conversations about online safety can significantly help reduce risks,” Amanda says.
“As a psychologist, one of my biggest concerns about kids online is their mental health. We know there are clear links between the use of social media and mental health. I always recommend parents take proactive steps to encourage their child’s mental health if they are engaging on social media, to try to counteract the negative effect social media can have,” Amanda says.
To help keep children safer, Amanda has shared 7 smart safety tips for this year’s Safer Internet Day.
Psychologist Amanda Abel is frequently asked how to keep kids safe online.
7 smart safety tips to protect children online
1. Educate in an age-appropriate way
It’s important children know about the dangers of the internet. But when we speak to a 6-year-old we might omit some details that might scare them, whereas we might give a 12-year-old more information about the potential risks.
2. Encourage good online behaviour
Having great “offline” social skills doesn’t always translate to appropriate online social skills. Children need to know what is and isn’t friendly when they’re group-chatting, and how what they post online could be there forever.
3. Don’t reinvent the wheel
There are some great resources out there that parents can access, such as the My Device Rules book. Games like Interland are fun and can give kids a chance to generalise and apply the theoretical knowledge they’ve learned about internet safety.
4. Start with parental controls
Apps and settings such as Apple’s iPad ‘Screentime’ can help ensure younger children are only accessing age-appropriate content. As children get older, they’ll need to learn how to manage risks for themselves, so starting young means they aren’t overwhelmed when they get free reign.
5. Teach personal data privacy
Parents tend to worry more about inappropriate content, but teaching children to keep their personal information secure is just as important. Children’s data can be stolen just like adults’ data is, leading to fraud and identity theft.
6. Have a plan, not a punishment
Children will eventually come across something online that makes them feel uncomfortable, whether that’s inappropriate content or bullying. The important thing is that they feel able to talk to you about it, rather than hide it because they’re worried about getting into trouble.
7. Same online, offline rules
The same rules for the offline world should apply to online interactions. This might include boundaries about who a child can interact with, or time limits on activities. The more time a child spends online unsupervised, the higher the risk of dangerous situations.