BY MR SULEIMAN IDRIS GARBA (B.Tech) - Computer Science Teacher
There is no doubt that the technological breakthroughs that define the 21st century have come with so many benefits for the human race. From education, medical research to sports and even entertainment, the influence of technology cannot be overlooked in areas such as politics, entrepreneurship and human capital development especially when we talk about the internet and social media space. Connecting with others on a global level is more important than ever in our society today and this comes with some negativity such as fake news, cyber-crime, cyber bullying and pornography which our children can be exposed to. Being connected helps children and teenagers to access the vast educational resources present on the internet, reach out to their peers across the globe through social media and follow research and innovative trends that can help make a positive impact in the world. The major challenges of parents with regards to their children's internet usage is how to maximize all that the internet has to offer, minimizing the potential harm and ensuring you don't invade on your child's privacy while trying to do that. Every parent will agree this is not an easy balance.
Below are some ways we can keep our children safe while they use the internet.
1. OPEN COMMUNICATION
Have an honest dialogue with your children about who they communicate with and how. Make sure they understand the value of kind and supportive interactions and that mean, discriminatory or inappropriate contact is never acceptable. If your children experience any of these, encourage them to tell you or a trusted adult immediately. Be alert if your child appears to be upset or secretive with online activities or if they are experiencing cyber bullying. Work with your child to establish rules on how, when and where devices can be used.
2. TEACH THEM ABOUT THE NEED FOR PRIVACY
Help your child learn to keep personal information private, especially from strangers. Check that your child’s device is running the latest software and antivirus programs, and that privacy settings are on. Keep webcams covered when not in use. For younger children, tools such as parental controls, including safe search, can help keep online experiences positive.
Be cautious of free online educational resources. Your child should never have to provide a photo or their full name to use these resources. Remember to check the privacy settings to minimize data collection.
3. SPEND TIME WITH THEM ONLINE
Create opportunities for your child to have safe and positive online interactions with friends, family and you. The aim is to model kindness and empathy in your “virtual interactions”.
Help your child recognize and avoid misinformation and age-inappropriate content. Spend time with your child to identify age appropriate apps, games and other online entertainment. Try to get familiar with trends in entertainment and social media such as slangs and abbreviations so you can understand your child's conversation better.
4. ENCOURAGE HEALTHY ONLINE HABITS Promote and monitor good behavior online and on video calls. Encourage your children to be kind and respectful to classmates, to be mindful of what clothes they wear and to avoid joining video calls from a bedroom. Familiarize yourself with school policies and helplines to report cyber bullying or inappropriate online content. As children spend more time online, they can be exposed to more advertising that may promote unhealthy habits, gender stereotypes or age-inappropriate material. Help them recognize online ads and use the opportunity to explore together what is wrong with some of the negative messaging you see.
5. LET THEM HAVE FUN AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES Encourage your children to use their voices online to share their views and support those in need.
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