1 August 2019
As part of St Helena Government’s (SHG) Internet Awareness Campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of the internet and to promote safety when online, this week the focus is on keeping your children safe online.
Over the last few weeks we have looked at the dangers that exist when using the internet and Social Media. We have heard tips on the best ways to avoid these dangers and how to safely enjoy the powerful resource that is the World Wide Web.
In this final week our emphasis is on what you can do as parents and guardians to ensure that children with access to the internet are safe from any potential dangers.
These tips will help ensure that your children are not exposed to online dangers and can enjoy what the internet has to offer in a safe way:
- Have a conversation – Most children are getting internet-connected gadgets from a young age. So start talking to them early. Warn them about the dangers of the internet and let them know that you’re looking out for them. Speak honestly with them
- Keep internet use in a common area of the house – Online bullies and even sex offenders cannot harass your child if you are there to see what your child is up to. So make sure your children aren’t going to bed with their laptops and phones. Keep internet time in the common areas of the house
- Agree boundaries as a family – Setting boundaries such as how long your child can spend online and what they can get up to while using the internet will go a long way in ensuring they are safe online. Agree these as a family
- Be in the know – As a parent/guardian, you should know what it is your children are doing online. Make sure you are aware of the sites they are visiting and if you have any doubts then check the site history to ensure they are all appropriate
- Check content is age-appropriate – Check the age ratings of games, movies, and websites that your child might be visiting online
- Use parental and privacy controls – To ensure your children are not visiting websites that are unsuitable or inappropriate, take advantage of the parental control and privacy settings to restrict access to these pages. Adjust settings to suit your child’s age and maturity
Remember these tips next time your children are online and share them with friends and family who also have children to ensure that you and the people you care about keep their children safe online.
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SHG
1 August 2019