Going online is a huge part of most young people’s lives. But it's often a cause of worry and concern for parents.
If you had previously been trying to keep the internet off limits, the onset of Covid with homeschooling and virtual playdates made this impossible.
So rather than trying to outright ban internet activity, it’s important to talk to your kids about online safety.
Here’s 5 tips to get you started.
Staying safe online
- Chat to them about what they like to do online: The best way to find out what your child is doing online is to talk to them and have regular conversations so that online safety is part of everyday discussion. Ask open-ended questions like ‘What’s your favourite game or app to play on?’ Make sure to listen to what they have to say and show an interest. They could give you a demo of their favourite app or
show you their favourite YouTube or TikTok account. - Talk about who they are in contact with online: There are lots of different ways that children can talk to people online; obvious ways like messaging apps, and less obvious ways like online games. Talk to your child about who they are talking to and what they are sharing with them. Remind your child that they shouldn’t share personal information with people they don’t know online and let them know they can come to you if they need to talk.
- Set parental controls: These controls and privacy settings can help you keep your kids safe online.
- Device settings – manage things like location sharing, screen time and in-app purchases. Most tech
and gaming companies have dedicated pages to support with setting these up. - App or game settings – in-app tools that can help to keep your child’s account private and manage who they’re talking to. You can normally find information on these in account settings or directly on the platforms website.
- Mobile or network provider settings – help to manage browsing access and stop your child from visiting
inappropriate sites or downloading apps that aren’t suitable. Contact your mobile or broadband provider
for more information about setting this up.
4. Remember it’s ok to ask for help: You don’t have to be an online safety expert, there are experts who can help. If your child asks you a question you don’t know the answer to, or speaks to you about a negative experience they had online, here are some of things you could do:
- Speak to another parent for advice
- Speak to your child's teacher
- Ask the Child Protection and Family Services Agency for advice
- Contact Cornerstone Jamaica
5. Make sure websites are secure: You can instantly tell if any website is safe by looking for one letter: “s.” Every website address starts with the letters “http,” but you know a site is secure when you see “https.” That means the website itself is taking measures to keep users and their information secure while they use the site.