Here are some precautionary ways that will help protect your children from Internet Threats:
- Prohibit your children from making profiles in online websites that can include them in directories. These directories are composed of profiles that may contain personal information of the user. Creating profiles that can be seen in directories, such as in chat rooms, increases the risks of being approached by paedophiles and online criminals.
- Advise your children that they should not put information that is too personal in the internet. This may include their address, school, phone number, complete name, or even details such as where they are going or working. In some instances where it is inevitable to put their personal information, make sure that they make their profiles “private” so that strangers won’t be able to view their information. Check their profiles to make sure they followed your instructions.
- Teach your children of the value of their personal information and why they should not provide it in the internet. They should always assume that everything that they provide or do in the internet is public.
- Teach your children why it is important not to personally meet strangers that they meet online and tell them about the possible dangers of doing it. If their online friends seems to be nice and trustworthy and your child wants to meet them, make sure that you are present in that event. After all, you can never really fully trust anybody you meet online.
- Educate your children about identity theft and the possible consequences from it. Let them know also about online bullying and the causes of getting exposed to it.
- Always have an open communication with your children. This way, you’ll be able to guide them and check on them better.