5 Tips for Discussing Internet Safety With Kids

Asian Father showing daughter the importance of discussing internet safety with kids on their tablet.

Today I’m sharing some tips for discussing internet safety with kids. Whether your kids are 5 or 15, there’s plenty of safety tips you can pass on. Today I’m sharing some of them. Keep reading for inspiration.

Discussing Internet Safety With Kids

The internet is, undeniably, an incredible invention that’s helped all members of our society, from the young to the elderly. The internet has led to some amazing advances in technology and even helped to solve missing person cases and reunite children with their lost toys. It’s even led to some of the most powerful protests that have changed the way countries have been governed. 

However, there’s a dark side to the internet and the people who use it will try to hack, scam, and even hurt individuals. Everyone is susceptible to these users, but it is our teenagers who are at the highest risk of these attacks due to their naivety and lack of knowledge pertaining to the warning signs they may encounter online. 

parents discussing internet safety with kids on their tablet, at the kitchen table.

Parents discussing internet safety with kids on their tablet, at the kitchen table.

With that in mind, it’s important you consider ways of discussing internet safety with kids.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. The internet is a great resource for our children and helps them to complete their homework, stay in touch with friends and keep entertained. It’s rare to find a child of today’s generation without a smartphone, tablet, or computer of their own and it’s therefore important to discuss internet safety with them. 

In this blog post, we’re going to delve into some top tips for discussing internet safety with kids. Let’s get started! 

Call a Family Meeting to Discuss Rules and Boundaries

The first step to discussing internet safety with your kids is to call a family meeting. During this meeting, you can all discuss appropriate boundaries and clear-cut rules. Establishing boundaries that all members of the family understand is crucial.

Keep the communication channels open and ask your children about the types of apps and websites they would like to access and go through each of them together, pointing out the possible dangers. 

Remind Them That not Everything They see is Real

One of the dangers that the internet possesses is the ability to affect children’s self-esteem; this is a particularly common occurrence in teenage girls. Instagram is a very popular app that allows users to share images of their life and it is a popular app used by celebrities and influencers. Children should be reminded that not everything they see online is real and that people often edit their photos.

Asian Parent discussing internet safety with kids over their tablet.

Asian Parent discussing internet safety with kids over their tablet.

Teach Them the Dangers of People Pretending to be Someone Else Online

It’s also easy to relay false information or lie about your identity when using the internet. Make sure your children are aware of the dangers and ensure that they’re savvy when it comes to talking to strangers online.

Ensure that they understand how important it is to keep personal information to themselves and to not reveal details such as their full name or address to strangers on the internet. What’s more, explain why it’s imperative that your child should never meet up with someone they’ve met online, or if they do, that they should take a trusted adult with them.

Set Parental Controls

Lastly, if you want a little more control over the type of content your children have access to, consider using your router and internet provider to set parental controls in place. Your internet provider can block certain websites and keywords, and you can also alter your router’s settings to disable access to certain websites.

Final Thoughts on Discussing Internet Safety With Kids

There are plenty of ways to teach your children how to use the internet safely, but the most important thing you can do for your kids is to establish clear communication and show them that you trust them. If you need any more guidance on discussing internet safety with kids, this NSPCC Online Safety Guide is really helpful. 

Clear communication in which you and your children have established clear-cut rules and boundaries will result in an honest and open relationship between children and parents, allowing you to talk freely and openly about any issues that arise. Finally let us know in the comments if you have any other ideas to share with the geekymummy community.