Internet Safety

How to protect your child online

Today, technology offers us the world at our fingertips, and this comes with numerous advantages for your child, including: ease of research for school reports or projects, quick communication with teachers and fellow students, and access to educational games and material. But, granting your child online access comes with risks, such as: access to inappropriate content, internet predators, and cyber bullying.

Cyberbullying is when something is sent, posted, or shared that is negative, false, or harmful to someone. It can also be when someone’s private or sensitive information is shared without consent or knowledge, with the goal of harming or humiliating that person. Cyberbullying is a serious issue that parents should be aware of; you may have even been a victim of it yourself. If your child is being cyberbullied, it could have numerous negative effects such as: anxiety, depression, and stress.

The largest issue facing parents is that it’s often hard to detect. Children who are being bullied often feel ashamed or embarrassed to speak up to an adult. They may fear being seen as a “tattletale”, what the retaliation may be, or that they’ll get into trouble for what’s being shared about them. If you’re concerned your child might be the victim of cyberbullying, there are a few signs to look out for:

Emotional upset after or during use of electronic devices
Being very sensitive at the mention or inquiry of their digital life
Very secretive or secluded when using electronic devices
Avoiding school or public gatherings where they may encounter peers
Nervous or jumpy when receiving texts, social media alerts, etc.
Avoiding use of their devices all together

If you suspect your child is being bullied or have found evidence of it, it can be a hard subject to broach. It’s important to be aware that your child is already in a very sensitive space, and if they haven’t spoken up about it, there’s a good chance they wanted to keep it hidden. Here’s how you can help:

Open Discussion – Approaching the subject of bullying will more than likely be a difficult discussion for both parties. Be prepared that your child may act out in anger, sadness, or denial. It’s important to assure your child that they are not alone, that it isn’t their fault, and that it’s never
Document It– Be sure that you work with your child to document any abuse.
Report It – Work out a plan together to report the issue, whether it be to a school administrator or to the parent of the bully.
Resist Retaliation – Encourage your child to ignore the bully, as a response is often what the bully is seeking.
Block It Out – Most social media platforms have blocking and reporting features so you can prevent the bully from reaching your child. If your child is being bullied via texts or calls, you can block the phone numbers.
Offer Encouragement –Be sure to offer extra support to your child during this difficult time. Reassure them of their importance, remind them that they are loved, and make it extremely clear that the bullying is not their fault.

Being Proactive as a Parent

As a parent, it’s smart to periodically remind your child how to use the internet safely to protect against online predators or cyber bullies. Try these tactics to promote better online hygiene:

Keep passwords personal and private and try to use a variety of passwords.
Log out of accounts when you’re finished using them, particularly if you’re using a public or shared device.
Learn to pause before you post. Taking an extra moment to question if what they’re posting could be damaging to themselves or others.
Remind your child that what they post online is permanent, even if they believe it’s been deleted.
Limit screen time for your child, an overuse of internet or electronic devices can be a trigger for other problems.
Enforce a strict “no internet an hour before bedtime” rule. Not only will this promote better sleep, it’ll prevent late night cyberbullying.