The internet is a way of life for young children but the laws to protect them don’t go far enough. In this article, we’ll take a look at different ways you can keep your children safe online…

These days children use the internet for everything from keeping in touch with friends, to doing their homework for school. While this is an incredibly useful tool, it also has its dangers in the form of predators. It may, therefore, shock some parents to learn that it is not illegal to talk to a minor online.

Studies show that children are starting to use the internet from as young as eight years of age, leaving them vulnerable to abuse so, in this article, we’re going to share some of the ways in which parents can keep their children safe online.

It’s Good to Talk

The first step in keeping kids safe online is to have a frank conversation with them about the dangers. That’s not to say that parents should use scare tactics, which can often be counterproductive. Instead, it’s important to explain to children that not everybody on the internet is quite who they seem. And, to encourage children to tell their parents if somebody on the internet is making them feel uncomfortable or is asking too many personal questions. Safety almost always begins with education, and so, making kids aware of the dangers is a great foundation for keeping them safe.

Part of this education should include teaching children about privacy controls and the importance of being selective when sharing photographs and other content. You’ll also want to teach youngsters about geolocation controls and make sure that these are set to private. As well as checking networks and devices, you and your children need to be aware that digital photographs can also contact metadata which may include GPS coordinates. Keeping this information away from prying eyes makes good sense for the entire family, not just children.

Setting family rules about online sharing is a great way to encourage safe internet use from an early age.

Familiarise Yourself with Parental Controls

Devices and internet providers offer a number of options for parental controls; for example, SafeSearch Filters on Google allows parents to block sites which show graphic sexual material. Go to the settings on devices to see what kind of parental controls are available so that you can decide what kind of content to block from your children’s view.

Keep Devices in Sight

In the case of young children, it’s a good idea to limit internet use to family time; i.e, when parents and children are in the same room. This allows parents to keep an eye on what their kids are looking at. You may also want to set mobile devices to ‘forget’ WIFI passcodes to give yourself more control over when and how often your child is on the internet. Similarly, a condition of your child being allowed access to the internet should be that you have access to any and all passwords.

Even with older children, placing restrictions on their internet use in their bedrooms can help to minimise risk.

Monitor Internet Use

Online predators often ‘disguise’ themselves as children and, even the most savviest of kids may be fooled by this. Make sure that you regularly monitor your child’s internet use to find out who they are chatting with. Although your child almost certainly won’t like this, familiarising yourself with their friends and the people they’re talking to online, on a regular basis, will help you to more easily identify anybody who may not be who they claim to be.

Lead by Example

Children often take their cues from their parents when it comes to social interactions so, it’s important that you practice what you preach when it comes to internet safety. This includes only having trusted and known people on your social media platforms and limiting the number of photographs of your children that you share. Modeling safe and sensible online behaviour for your kids, right from the start, can help them to form good habits which will keep them safe.

Know the Law

While we’ve mentioned earlier in this article that it is not illegal to talk to a minor online, sexual contact and grooming is not permitted. The law states that an adult may be prosecuted for online contact with a minor if:

The perpetrator is over the age of 18
The perpetrator is knowingly communicating with a child under 16
The perpetrator does not reasonably believe that the child is over 16
The communication is sexual in nature and aims to incite similar communication from the child
The perpetrator aims to obtain sexual gratification

If you believe that a person has committed a child grooming offence, it’s important to get in touch with a solicitor as soon as possible.

Onboard with Safety Online

These days, we’ve become all too used to seeing headlines about children who have fallen victim to online predators and bullies. While it may be tempting to ban internet use completely, this simply is not practical in an increasingly digital world.

Instead, making sure that you set parental controls as well as educating your children on the basics of online safety is a great start. Additionally, encouraging children to talk about what they’re doing online and who they’re talking to, can form an early warning system for parents, helping them to nip any potential issues in the bud.

How To Keep Your Children Safe Online: A Guide