Surjit Singh Flora
There are numerous strategies parents can implement to ensure their children’s safety on the internet. Our approach to online safety mirrored our approach to safety in the digital and technology era.
In summary, we provided our children with the opportunity to explore and experiment under our supervision, allowing them to learn from their experiences and the minor mistakes they made while we were available to guide them through understanding the outcomes. Our children were using the internet at a young age, sending messages to family members from computers in our living room while we supervised and assisted them. Upon transitioning to browsers and web sites, we provided guidelines to ensure safety and privacy. These included refraining from sharing personal information, seeking permission before visiting new websites, and consulting with us about any uncertainties.
Once, for a clever demonstration, I discreetly entered an online game they were playing and acted as a child of their age. During dinner, I inquired about the game, and they enthusiastically shared details about their recent acquaintance. I subtly hinted during our conversation until one of them finally made the connection and asked me, surprised, “Wait, Dad, was that you!?” It became clear to them that they were unaware of the true identity of anyone on the “other end,” emphasizing the significance of safeguarding personal information.
As they entered their teenage years and gained more independence, we felt confident that they would mature into responsible individuals online. We continue to discuss online safety regularly, and they frequently approach us with questions or concerns. It appears that they grasp the potential risks and outcomes of their behavior.
Online safety is crucial and it’s important for your child to be aware of the potential dangers in the online community. Parents should educate their children about potential risks and provide them with solutions to help them navigate these situations. Moreover, your child should not hesitate to disclose their mistakes to you. Be a guiding presence in their lives while also fostering a strong friendship. It’s important to stay aware of your child’s activities, even when you’re busy. Inform them about the potential results of their specific actions.
In the current digital era, it is essential to prioritize the safety of children online and on social media platforms such as Snapchat. Here are a few measures parents can implement to safeguard their children:
Transparent communication: Encourage an open and accepting conversation with your children regarding their online activities. Encourage them to openly discuss their experiences and concerns so that you can work together to resolve any possible issues.
Establish limitations suitable for the individual’s age. Age restrictions are in place on numerous social media platforms for a specific purpose. Ensure that your children are utilizing platforms appropriate for their age and level of maturity.
Share insights on privacy. It’s crucial to educate your children on the significance of protecting personal information. One must grasp the dangers of sharing sensitive information and the possible outcomes of engaging with unfamiliar individuals on the internet.
Monitor online activity. Stay vigilant about your child’s online presence, including their social media accounts. Understand the individuals they are interacting with and the content they are exchanging. It’s important to strike a balance between respecting their privacy and keeping them safe by letting them know about the monitoring of their online activity.
Establish stringent privacy controls. Assist your child in setting up the privacy options for their social media profiles, such as Snapchat. Ensure that their content is only visible to friends and approved connections.
Consider utilizing parental control tools. Consider using parental control software or apps to oversee and limit your child’s internet usage. These tools are designed to block inappropriate content and restrict screen time.
Set restrictions on internet usage. Promote a well-rounded mix of online and offline pursuits. Establishing sensible time constraints for social media usage is crucial to prevent it from disrupting other essential parts of one’s life, like schoolwork, exercise, and in-person socializing.
Share guidelines for online behavior: Highlighting the significance of behaving respectfully and responsibly on the internet. Encourage your children to carefully consider before posting or sharing anything that could be hurtful or inappropriate.
Promote reporting: Ensure that your children know they can approach you if they face any issues or feel uneasy while using social media. Guide individuals on how to report inappropriate content or interactions to the platform administrators.
Set a positive example: young individuals frequently acquire knowledge by observing their parents’ actions. Showcase excellent online practices and exhibit responsible behavior on social platforms to establish a favorable model.
Keep yourself informed. Keep yourself updated on the newest developments and applications in the social media realm. By doing this, you will gain a deeper insight into the possible dangers and obstacles your children could encounter on the internet.
Keep in mind that, despite taking all these precautions, no method is completely foolproof. Encouraging a strong bond with your children is key to creating an environment where they are open to discussing their online activities and worries. This way, you can work together to tackle any issues and help them make more informed choices on social media.
However, in this digital age, families are grappling with the difficulties of raising children, so it’s understandable that ensuring internet safety for kids is a priority.
Tackling the problem is both straightforward and intricate.
At times, problems can be quite complex, requiring a simplified solution out of necessity.
Put simply, if a complex problem has a solution that is too intricate to implement, the best option is to simplify and find a solution that bypasses the complexities.
First, let’s discuss the common assumption that parents are to blame if children are at risk online.
It is frequently accurate.
It is the duty of parents to safeguard their children from harm. Unfortunately, some neglect this duty and shift the blame to outside factors when their child suffers.
However, even conscientious parents may find themselves in a challenging position when both parents, and a single parent, need to work at the same time. Ensure the safety of their children online. Help their children become knowledgeable about the internet. Accomplishing two out of three tasks is achievable. Trying to accomplish all three tasks at the same time is not feasible.
That being said, irrespective of the influence of parents, society has a strong interest in safeguarding children from various types of abuse, including online.
Considering the situation, there are only two possible solutions to this problem, and the first one, which involves eliminating all computers, is not feasible.
The second point is highly debated and requires careful consideration, particularly regarding the elimination of online anonymity.
There is simply no other option available. Only full efforts will suffice.
Today, children have the ability to access pornographic websites simply by clicking “Yes, I am 18.”
The issue is that despite any partial solutions being put in place, there will always be individuals, typically teenagers or young adults, who will find a way around them. This information will then spread rapidly through platforms like Discord, reaching even younger audiences within a short period of time.
Are you looking to address this issue?
If that’s the case, the government may have to consider restricting children’s access to certain areas of the internet.
One practical approach would be to mandate identity authentication during login.
It must be more than just a driver’s license or a similar form of identification.
Children have the ability to access a card from an adult’s wallet or purse.
The government should maintain an email or other contact method on file and send parents an automatic notification whenever someone accesses their account without permission.
For instance, if a child creates a porn account using a parent’s ID and then uses a self-made email, the system will detect it, block the action, and notify the parents.
This implies that adults would need to inform the authorities about their personal accounts on various platforms, including Facebook and others that parents may not want their children to use.
Anything below this standard just won’t suffice. Individuals of different age groups will discover a solution, with children likely gaining access within a week or two.
Many individuals may publicly endorse this concept to safeguard children, yet secretly vote against any administration attempting to implement it.
The issue at hand can be resolved, but it’s unlikely that individuals will be willing to compromise their privacy in order to address it. So, the most likely culprits are parents and tech billionaires.
(The writer is a veteran journalist and
freelance writer).
