12 Internet safety tips for Parents

By Kudzai Nyahanana

Keep your child safe online by considering the following tips:

1. Teach your child to use the internet and tech safely and positively.
2. Set boundaries. This can be done by blocking access to certain sites and using other filtering software.
3. Teach your child about the importance of privacy. Not every personal information should be revealed online.
4. Have a look at some of your child’s favourite sites and apps.
5. Adare to age restrictions of certain sites. Do not allow your child to override those restrictions.
6. Always monitor your child’s screen time to ensure that they are not spending most of their tie online. Focus more on basic developmental needs.
7. Avoid using devices for punishment or as a reward.
8. Teach your child the importance of filtering information that they come across online. A child needs to know how to differentiate between fact and fiction.
9. Create tech-free zones, where the use of devices is restricted eg when sharing a meal, in bedrooms, etc.
10. Remind your child of the permanence of online content. Even if you delete it, chances are someone has already saved your photos or videos.
11. Never let their friends have free reign on their devices. This is because not everyone has the same rules and standards of cyber safety.
12. As a parent, you also need to educate yourself on the safe use of tech and how to help your child not fall victim to whatever negative effects of tech.