Internet safety for children and teens

Young people are spending more time online than ever before. In fact, teenagers in the United States Outside of school work, they may spend more than 7 hours online each day, and teens nearly five hours.

While there are significant benefits to children and teens using the Internet, including for learning, socializing, and self-expression, there are also inherent risks, especially with so much screen time. Just as we wouldn’t let teens drive without understanding the dangers of the road and the power of making informed choices, internet safety is a conversation all parents and children need to have.

What is online safety?

For young people, Internet safety refers to how and where children and teens spend time online – from virtual learning for school and using search engines, to connecting with friends and creating content on social media. Youth online safety includes understanding the implications of how children present themselves and interact with others digitally (sharing ideas, images, videos, and communicating with others), as well as the information they consume and its potential risks.

Unfortunately, the online world brings many dangers to the safety of children, from Cyber ​​bullying And the low self-esteem The possibility of interacting with sexual predators online and being exposed to obscene material. While the Internet may seem remote or unimportant to real life, interactions and shared content can continue in ways that may put the safety and success of young people in harm’s way. Thus, it is important to establish internet safety with the youth in your life, as well as to be able to recognize the warning signs of online safety risks.

Here’s what you can do to help protect the young people in your life from harm:

Four tips on internet safety for children and families

Here are four ways you can prepare your child to spend time online so that they can learn about online safety risks for themselves and make informed decisions.

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      Educating young people about safety on the Internet. First and foremost, as young adults begin to engage with the Internet, it is time to facilitate age-appropriate education about online safety. Topics may include privacy, digital consent, boundary violations, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship. They should learn what areas of the internet are appropriate for them to visit, understand the risks, and consider who they want to be online. Some online security software includes:

      • • netsmartz And the KidSmarts Online safety programs from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) help youth understand online risks and prevent victimization by making safer choices online and offline.

       

      • • Digital citizenship to teach common sense Lessons help young people understand how to use technology responsibly.

       

      • MyFuture virtual learning platform for boys and girls in America digital literacy The activities are free for all young people, not just club members, and help young people build online safety skills, as part of building basic technical skills.

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      Create safe spaces for conversation. Provide physically and emotionally safe environments for your child to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns about what they’re interacting with online, whether it’s something unusual a friend posted, a link they shouldn’t click on, or a stranger sending them messages. This means always providing space to speak up and not being pushy (which can make them more likely to be discreet), and accommodating non-judgmental, non-punitive feedback no matter what you’re told. By keeping the lines of communication open and letting your child know they have supportive people who care about them, you will create consistency for a safe environment where they are more likely to come to you when something feels “off” during their time online.

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      Enable technology security features and create a technology “code of conduct”. Many online services and platforms include tools, such as content filters/blockers, Parental control or other security features that limit young people’s access to potentially harmful people or content on the Internet. Depending on the age of your son or teen, you may also want to discuss a “code of conduct” for technology use, and any expectations for parental supervision or access to or monitoring of hardware and software. Just like adults, young people value their privacy, so being open to expectations and sharing is key here, and a crucial part of creating that safe environment for conversations. And remember, school-issued technology devices must have the same rules as personal devices.

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      Always be wary of your app’s location settings. As young people spend more and more time on their phones and on apps, one of the biggest threats when using apps is location services technology. Most apps have the option to turn on location services, moreover, many of them have an additional feature called Precise Location. Precise location is useful to apps like Uber when your driver is trying to find you. To ensure your child’s safety, always check the location services on any apps they use. To turn off precise location, open the Settings app, go to the end of the page where your apps are listed, tap an app, select “Location,” look for the Precise location section, and turn off the toggle.

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      Know the warning signs. When a young person is a victim of online bullying, harassment or sexual exploitation, it can be a traumatic event that affects him and his family, sometimes for many years. But there is hope and help. Having open lines of communication with young people and being able to spot warning signs early can help stop online safety risks before they get ahead. So even if you’ve laid a solid foundation of online safety, make sure you know the warning signs so you can intervene as soon as possible.

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   Make your child aware of the dangers of interacting with people online (and in person). In the online world, your child is very likely to run into people they don’t know. Predators may act like a friend, family member, or other child (a technique known as cyberbaiting) to initiate contact. From an early age, be clear that not everyone on the Internet is who they are supposed to be, and that it is very easy to lie and pretend online. You can confirm this by making it a kind of “what if” question and answer thread: “What if someone you don’t know in real life starts talking to you online?” By creating opportunities for conversation about online behavior, you can give your kids the tools they need to protect themselves if a predator tries to reach them.

What are the safety warning signs on the Internet?

according to stopitnow.orgHere are warning signs a young person may display if affected by online sexual assault, but these behaviors are also pervasive across many online safety risks.

Here’s what to look for in your son or teen:

• • isolate themselves A young person may start spending more time online, being secretive about their technology use, hiding their devices or screens from others, or becoming possessive about their technology.

• • social changes A young person may spend more time away from home, be ambiguous about new friends and social interactions, or be reluctant to be alone with a particular person.

• Emotional changes A young person may exhibit sudden changes, behavior, or mood swings, engage in self-harm, or show signs of anger or annoyance.

Although young people are spending more time online, we can work alongside them to reduce risks to online safety. With open communication, moderation, preventive education, and strong tech policies, we can provide the guidance and support needed to keep young people safe online.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is proud to partner with Q5id Guardian who directly supports our efforts to further enhance safety and leadership policies and procedures at the local club level. With the help of Q5id Guardian, BGCA is developing a safety management program that will train club leaders and mentors to develop and implement a safety model that addresses real-life challenges through transformational approaches.