7 Ways to Protect Your Child from Internet Dangers

Many parents mistakenly believe that children who spend most of their time at home are out of danger. Unfortunately, they are absolutely wrong, because the Internet has become one of the greatest dangers for modern humanity .

Websites are full of shady and immoral content consisting of violence , pornography , advertisements , hatred , fraud and other dangerous things. Unlike adults, young children simply absorb this information. They do not know how to resist various temptations, false teachings and negativism.

Many young users of social networking websites often fall victim to cyberbullying . Have you ever heard of cyber attacks? Today, people can easily offend, humiliate and intimidate each other using electronic technology. Adults realize that cyberbullying is not a dangerous and serious thing, as in most cases it does not endanger physical safety. Cyberbullying is the choice of mentally weak but cunning people who want to destabilize emotional well-being and damage the self-esteem of certain or random individuals. Children tend to take everything too seriously and believe that threatening words will become a reality in a very short period of time.

During the pre-adolescent and adolescent period, parents should help their children to get acquainted with the Internet and teach them to use its resources responsibly and safely. Read on to find out how to do it.

1. Set rules

This is the most important step to start because you are a parent. Every family has its own standards, traditions and parents have the right to set rules . These rules usually help all family members to cope better and protect them from various dangers.

When making rules , do it carefully. Too much control can push children to isolate themselves or even turn them into revolutionaries. Both adults and children know that the forbidden fruit is always sweet. If you do not want this trouble to happen, try to teach children the rules, using an authoritative approach instead of an authoritarian one.

In case your children say they have forgotten a rule, you need to come up with an effective reminder. Make a list of your rules, then write and put it in front of the computer so that children can see and remember what they can do and what is strictly forbidden. But it won't work if your child has a modern smartphone or other electronic gadgets that can easily connect to the Internet.

In general, children should not have access to the Internet until they are teenagers. If you think they are crucial for both children and adults, your children should enjoy the Internet under your strict control for the sake of their emotional well-being.

2. Pay attention to your child's emotional state

Cyberbullying has a significant negative impact on children's mental health . But how do you know your child is a victim of cyber bullies? You are a parent and the only one who knows your child very well. Every day you have to pay attention to their words, actions and analyze everything that happens in their lives. Sometimes strange emotions or unusual behavior can be signs of a problem hidden somewhere deep in their frightened and confused eyes.

Many children tend to lower the curtain on their life problems and are often ashamed to ask for help, especially when it comes to their personal lives. They may appear disillusioned during the day and reluctant to attend school or associate with others. Realize that chronic stress and isolation from normal interaction with others can lead to psychological disorders.

If you notice that your child is behaving strangely after spending a few hours in front of the computer, you should break the silence and talk to them, trying to understand what is happening. Do your best to reassure the child that everything you talk about will remain confidential. If there is no trust in the relationship between you and your child, you will never understand the truth.

3. Encourage your child to be sociable

Sociable and confident children who have many true friends are less prone to different types of bullying, and cyberbullying is no exception. Cyber hooligans choose insecure, closed and weak victims because they are the ones who will easily swallow the bait. These children cannot resist various manipulations because they lack mental strength and do not have friends to cheer them up, give valuable advice or give a shoulder during a difficult time. As a result, they retreat into their shells and come face to face with the manipulation and extortion of hooligans.

If your children are uncommunicative by nature, then you must do everything possible and impossible to become their friend. If they are communicative extroverts, then encourage them to communicate more with their peers and develop healthy friendships.

4. Set up parental controls

Today, parents have the opportunity to protect their children from the dangers of the Internet with the help of modern technology. The main thing is to be on "You" with the technique and to have a strong desire to raise healthy, full and comprehensive children .

Many operating systems include programs that monitor Internet traffic , prevent access to malicious websites, and provide professional Internet protection. Parents install and use these programs to see the content their children watch and prevent them from disclosing confidential information on social media. Wise people say that prevention is the best and most effective solution to almost all problems.

5. Give a good example

No matter how you show it or say it, you will never teach or change your children for the better if you set a bad example for them. Your bad behavior is a terrible example. This shows children that their parents do not respect them if they allow themselves to do things that are prohibited by family law.

If you do not change your attitude, you will quickly lose trust and break the emotional connection between you and your child. Children who grow up in families where mutual understanding and respect are not a priority tend to spend more time online trying to find support, friends and answers to various important questions.

6. Your child needs to understand what an online reputation is

Often children do not have the slightest idea of what virtual reality is. They mistakenly believe that this is just a game with no rules and they can behave as they please. Every modern child who has free access to the Internet must have a clear understanding of its structure, function and possible dangers.

As an experienced Internet user, you need to teach your child to behave properly in virtual reality, because the virtual world has much in common with the real world. Children should be held accountable for the information they publish online. Make sure your child does not add any photos or information that could violate the privacy of his or her own or family data.

In addition, they need to be aware that provocative photos and statements can seriously damage both their online and social reputations. It is important to realize that social media accounts are like questionnaires that reflect our characters, lifestyles, views, attitudes, interests, hobbies, relationships, and many other personal things. Online reputation is a difficult thing, but I hope you find the right words to explain to your children that it is necessary to create and maintain a positive online reputation for their future success.

7. Place your family computer in a visible place

The power of temptation is one of the strongest things in this world. This can tempt any child to do things they are not allowed to do. If you do not use parental control programs, you should keep your child's computer in a room frequently visited by you or other family members to keep children in mind that visiting restricted websites is a bad and risky idea. You will also be able to communicate more with your child. These tricks work well in the pre-adolescent and adolescent period. Teenagers will find ways to fool you because they are more resourceful and curious.

Internet safety for children must become a top priority for today's parents, because children are our future. If you do not want your "future" to have psychological problems, you need to change your home computer by installing special Internet security programs. But sometimes this is not enough, because a lot depends on the process of upbringing and the relationship between you and your children.

Do you believe that the Internet can affect the emotional well-being of children? How do you protect your children from the dangers of the Internet? Share your point of view.