11 Effective Tips to Keep your Kids Safe Online

We live in a world that’s more connected than ever before. It’s incredible to think that just 20 years ago Google had only just been founded. Facebook and YouTube were still just ideas, and the smartphones we can’t live without today didn’t even exist. Now, our kids have access to technology and they are exposed to the internet. Thus, the topic of keeping kids safe online has also become important.

Technology has brought some incredible advances and wonders into our world. But there’s also a growing understanding of its consequences. Consider the following statistics:

• 53% of kids in the US today have a smartphone by the age of 11 
• Kids between the ages of 5-8 spend over 3 hrs/day on a screen
• 82% of parents say they are concerned about their kids’ screen time
• Reports of child online exploitation have risen dramatically since the start of the coronavirus pandemic
• Numerous recent studies suggest a strong correlation between social media usage, screen time, and increased risk of depression in adolescents (ABC News)

This concerning trend is expected to continue. A growing body of research is emerging and raising alarm among parents, educators, health experts, and activists alike. As powerful a force as technology can be to empower and connect and educate, it can also have equally powerful negative consequences. 

More than ever, parents are grappling with the realities of our digital age and how to safely raise kids in a screen saturated world. What do parents need to know about internet safety today? What are the best ways to help families develop good web habits? We’ve compiled a list of the most important tips and ideas to help families protect kids online.

1. Keep Computers in Common Areas of your Home

Digital problems don’t always need digital solutions! Location matters when it comes to creating healthy web habits. Place computers used by children in a visible location in a common room. This helps to create a sense of accountability and makes it easier for parents to stay engaged. Experts increasingly recommend that you avoid placing a computer in your child’s room.

Unmonitored screen time at early ages creates a host of potential issues. Some of them are the increased likelihood of exposure to explicit content, not to mention the potential for overuse. If you do allow them to use a computer in their room, consider getting a laptop so that they can easily change locations and spend a limited amount of time by themselves. Whatever you do, look for ways to have a “training wheels” approach to computers so kids can learn in steps.

 2. Become More Internet Savvy 

It’s a fact that adults are at a disadvantage compared to kids when it comes to learning about technology and the internet (what does this button even DO? Where did that file go??). Today’s kids and teens are known as digital natives, as they were born in a millennium where computers have always existed. It may seem counterintuitive to parents who want to limit kids’ digital exposure, but a key element of helping kids develop healthy digital habits is for parents to stay informed.

While you don’t have to be a tech expert, strive to keep pace with your child’s ever-expanding tech knowledge. Try to learn more about the internet and different platforms, such as TikTok, Discord, Instagram, Twitch, and other social media. The best place to learn about the internet is – as with everything else these days… the internet! And don’t forget to discuss with other parents their challenges and wins. The more you know, the better you can guide your kids in online matters. 

3. Make the Internet a Family Thing

Browsing the web as a family both for educational and entertainment purposes is important for online child safety. As screens have become a constant in our world, it’s more important than ever for parents to model what good screen and digital activity look like. Parents that spend intentional time on the internet with their kids make it easier to both teach and monitor to help build confidence for the whole family.

Your children will also approach you with problems that need solving online when you show interest and engagement, which makes online activity an opportunity for interaction, not isolation. For example, consider making time to help with homework online as a way of bonding between you and your child while ensuring they are safe online.

4. Limit Screen Time 

For any parents who have walked this road before, you know setting “screen time” limits can be a battle. Having a set time that kids can use the computer for both personal and educational purposes can help to create consistency for kids while allowing you to set boundaries. It’s also key to pair screen time limits with other priorities so kids understand what’s most important – and to show flexibility when those priorities change.

If your child is using the computer to access quality content and learning materials, it may be appropriate to extend the time they use the computer. Additionally, setting limits for the internet could vary based on the age of the child and their computer knowledge. These kinds of approaches can help kids learn to see screens as tools and that time with them is earned through maturity.

5. Educate your Child about the Dangers of the Internet

The fact is that the online world has never been more dangerous, or more addictive. Parents realize now more than ever that some online time is essential to learning and even some social development. At the same time, children also need to understand the dangers they may face online and the steps they can take to avoid becoming a victim. Take time and have a discussion with your kids about internet dangers and best practices. The most important thing of all is simply to be engaged with your kids in an ongoing conversation about safety and how to be wise online. 

Parents should also consider ways to give their kids a safe onramp to internet activity. Using family safety tools like parental controls or introducing tech in steps with kid’s smart watches or kids phones could be a great way to make education about the internet safe and incremental.

6. Encourage Responsible Chat Room Participation

The web is a social place today. As kids spend more time surfing the web, the likelihood of encountering an online chat room or engaging with others through messaging apps is high. The comment section of YouTube videos can be a brutal and unforgiving place for a naive wanderer. There is a myriad of chat rooms and apps aimed at kids these days.

While the apps or platforms themselves are not the inherent risks, who your child encounters there is. For example, as more kids moved to an online study last year, reports of strangers contacting kids with external links to Zoom or Google Hangouts increased. Children need to understand that people in these forums are strangers no matter how friendly they seem online. Regularly inquire if they have been contacted by anyone online and consider blocking some sites with web traffic monitors or parental controls.

7. Prohibit Giving out Personal Information Online

Children tend to trust easily – it’s one of the beauties of childhood! But it also makes online interaction more dangerous. Kids may not understand the consequences of providing personal information to strangers online. Be clear with your child that providing any personal information like home address, school location, or phone number to strangers online is not allowed and is dangerous. And most of all, encourage them to talk with you if they’re ever unsure if something is ok.

8. Don’t Share Photos or Videos Online

In the age of social media, sharing photos and videos with friends is common. However, it is important to have clear guidelines for your child around sharing photos online. While texting with trusted friends may be ok, consider setting clear rules around posts on social media and ensuring their privacy settings are set to non-public. And most of all, make sure kids know that sharing photos with strangers is dangerous. 

Parents (and grandparents) should also consider the implications of posting photos of their kids. Once again, privacy settings can be key here. Whether you’re concerned about potential online predators or just the digital footprint you create for your kids that will follow them throughout their lives, be sure to think carefully about how and if you post pictures of kids.

9. Utilize Online Parental Controls

If you think about it, we have safe onramps for most things – car safety seats, training wheels for bikes, drivers ed for teens. But that’s often not the case with the internet and technology. Parents need to have some control over internet use in the home and exercise it when necessary for the safety of their children. This is a critical part of helping guide and trains your kids about what safety in the digital world means. Tools that allow parents to block some websites, filter information, and monitor their child’s use when online is important to consider for any household. Talk to your internet provider to learn about the parental control tools available and learn how to use them effectively.

10. Monitor Social Media Pages

In some ways, digital social interaction is becoming more real for the younger generations than face-to-face interaction. Social media is the driver of this. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok have become platforms for everything – both good and bad. What we do know is that social media is increasingly the platform through which predators approach children online.

The positive news is that many of these have (albeit too slowly) rolled out more robust parental controls and privacy settings that help keep kids safe. Talk to your child about the dangers of social media and give them tips on the best ways to stay safe. If you want more control over their social media use, consider installing an application that gives you information on their online activities.

11. Teach Children to Identify Cyberbullying 

Cases of cyberbullying are increasing worldwide as more kids move their social interaction online. The potential for abuse, harassment, and bullying naturally grow when kids can interact remotely or even anonymously online. And the research clearly shows that these kinds of negative interactions have long-term consequences for kids’ levels of anxiety and overall mental health. Parents can help by first engaging with kids to help them understand what online bullying is and that it’s not ok. Once kids understand what to look for, it’s easier for them to engage parents if they encounter it. As awareness has grown, parents also have more opportunities to take action to report and stop any malicious activity their kids may face.

Ultimately, online child safety is a team effort between parents and kids, with the best practices involving consistent messages and rules, clear communication, and lots of engagement. Families that actively engage with the “need to” and “how-to” of online safety will be better equipped to enjoy the wonders our digital world can offer. It will help give parents the peace of mind they need.

Hope you found this article useful. Please leave your thoughts in the comments.