Do you want to keep your child safe, monitor their internet activity and point out the dangers lurking out there? These points are not only for kids to keep in mind. We can all be more mindful of what we do online.
6 Safty Tips to Consider
- Online friendships: Try to think of your online world as an extension of your offline friendships. Make sure to include friends in your activities, because it is still hurtful to be left out of online games or chats, as it would be in real life.
- Be respectful: Respect your friends on social media, ask them before posting any photos and take down any pictures straight away if someone asks you to. Try to be mindful of how your posts will make other people feel before you put them up. You’ll care about what other people post about you, so be nice to others too.
- Be aware of your digital footprint: Every time you go online you leave a digital footprint, which shows others where you are and what you have been doing. Whether it’s a post you’ve liked or something you’ve searched for it leaves an online trail. In the future, when you meet new people or apply for jobs someone could look you up and you have to think – what will they see? Remember that once an image or file is online, it’s likely to stay there forever so be careful what you post.
- Protect your identity: It’s really important to never give out your personal information, such as your number, where you live or what school you go to. If you use social media check your privacy settings and make sure only your friends can see your posts. Ask an adult you trust to help you with this if you need it. Being careful online includes never sharing your personal information and understanding how scams work. You can share these top tips with your friends, and encourage them to speak out, block and report accounts acting suspiciously.
- Keep a healthy balance: The internet can be a great place where there is loads of useful information and a chance to play with friends. But if you find yourself spending lots of time online, or thinking about it when you could be doing fun ‘real world’ things, maybe it’s time to take a step back. It’s important to have breaks and have a good balance between being online and spending time in the ‘real world’.
- Think before you post: Social media and some websites can be great for posting your opinions. However, you risk saying or writing things on the spur of the moment that you might regret later. It’s the same for when you are replying to something someone has said. Remember there’s a person at the other end who has feelings, just like you do.
Article courtesy of CBBC
