While the internet can be a wonderful place for those seeking knowledge and information at the click of a button, it presents major dangers to our little ones – which is why the following research has proven so concerning.
According to a recent study conducted by Net Children Go Mobile, 26% of teens in the Republic of Ireland are using social networking sites, with over half (56%) lying about their age.
Releasing their study results on Internet Safety Day, the organisation expressed concern that our young ones are not adequately protecting themselves online.
With sites including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram requiring a teen to be over 13 to activate an account, cybercrime expert Cliona Curley said we, as parents and educators, need to be intervening to ensure their safety.
“From our experience talking to kids in schools, this is only the tip of the iceberg and usage of social media apps is now a daily feature of most pre-teens' lives. As parents and educators, we need to be doing a lot more to prepare young children for a connected future, enabling them to engage online in a safe and responsible manner, and expert support is needed to do this in an effective way,” she said.
As previously reported, the organisation will be rolling out a new primary school programme, teaching kids in 4th to 6th class about how to be safe online and report abuse.
If you are feeling concerned about your pre-teen’s online safety and habits, here are some steps you can take to increase their security:
1. Discuss online dangers
Yes, this can be frightening for a child to hear, but they need to be aware of the spectrum of dangers out there. Reiterate your ‘stranger danger’ talk, adapting it to suit the online world, and encourage them to be open with you if they ever find themselves in a situation with a stranger.
2. Activate parental control settings
Most phones and tablets will have parental control settings which allow you to monitor your child’s internet access. This will restrict your child’s internet usage, creating a safer online environment for them.
3. Warn them about giving out personal information
One of your golden rules should be to not give out any personal information to anyone they meet online – especially a stranger. This includes details of where they live and their daily life, as well as their all-important passwords.
4. Turn off their geo-tagging
This is something that you may not even realise is switched on, so this is an important reminder. Giving away your child’s location could potentially place them and your family in a dangerous situation, so always check that the tagging function is disabled around your child.
5. Be vigilant
Monitor your child’s behaviour after going online – has it changed in any way in recent times? Do they seem sad or much happier? As normal as it may sound, this could be the first sign of a change in their online activity – perhaps they have made a new ‘friend’. You need to be vigilant and aware at all times, so taking phones and tablets to bed unsupervised is also a big no-no.
